NB247
The Department of State Services (DSS) has released members of the Lagos State House of Assembly who were earlier detained by the agency following petition by the former Speaker of the House, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.
Obasa claims his removal was politically motivated and involved misconduct, abuse of office, and financial mismanagement.
Despite the lengthy questioning, all the detained lawmakers were released late Thursday evening, around 7 pm.
After their release, the lawmakers chose not to provide any details about the nature of the questioning or the petition itself.
Instead, they described the encounter with the DSS as a “friendly visit” and indicated that the issue would be formally addressed in due course on the floor of the House.
Obasa, who had been Speaker since 2015, was removed by a majority vote of the lawmakers on January 13, 2025, amid serious allegations of misconduct.
Upon his return to Lagos on Saturday from the US where he had been since his removal, Obasa strongly rejected the corruption allegations levelled against him and criticized the process that led to his ouster.
He urged the lawmakers to follow the “right process” in addressing his removal, while maintaining that he had been unfairly targeted.
Obasa’s removal and the ongoing political tensions have sparked significant controversy in the Lagos State political landscape, with calls for transparency in how leadership changes are handled within the legislative body.
Meanwhile, a socio-political group in Lagos, the Concerned Citizens of Lagos has alleged that there is a systematic attempt to undermine democracy in the state.
The group queried the alleged arrest and detention of some members of the Lagos State House of Assembly by the DSS.
In a statement e-signed by Omoba Murphy Ajibola on behalf of Lagosians and Concerned Citizens, the group decried the recent detention of members of the House.
It was reliably gathered that DSS operatives are currently making frantic efforts to detain Hon Abiodun Tobun and Hon Gbolahan Yishawu.