. As lawmakers allege seizure, destruction of phones during interrogation
…Group condemns arrest, says it’s ploy to undermine democracy
… Sanwo-Olu keeps mum
IBRAHIM QUADRI
The Department of State Services (DSS) has released all members of the Lagos State House of Assembly who had been detained in connection with a petition written by the former Speaker of the House, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.
According to reliable sources, over 30 lawmakers were interrogated by the DSS for more than six hours on Thursday, January 30, 2025, regarding a petition filed by Obasa concerning his removal as Speaker on January 13.
The DSS investigation followed Obasa’s claims that his ousting 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.
His removal came during a period when he was absent from Nigeria, having traveled to the United States.
Upon his return to Lagos on Saturday, Obasa strongly rejected the corruption allegations leveled 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 have cried out over what it described as a systematic attempt to undermine democracy in the state.
The group’s reaction followed the alleged arrest and detention of some members of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
In a statement e-signed by Omoba Murphy Ajibola on behalf of Lagosians and Concerned Citizens, the group decried the recent developments, highlighting the detention of members of the House.
Daily Champion reliably gathered that DSS operatives are currently making frantic efforts to detain Hon Abiodun Tobun and Hon Gbolahan Yishawu.
While on call at the DSS office, operatives snatched and smatched Tobun’s phone.
