Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Impeached Amid Allegations of Financial Misconduct

The Lagos State House of Assembly has impeached its Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, over allegations of gross misconduct and financial impropriety.

The decision was reportedly taken during a plenary session on Monday, with Mojisola Miranda, representing the Apapa I State Constituency, elected as the new Speaker.

Obasa, who has held the position since 2015, faced accusations from the Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, a self-proclaimed anti-corruption group, which alleged financial mismanagement during his tenure.

The coalition claimed that N17 billion was spent on constructing a gate for the Assembly complex, while an additional N200 million was allegedly spent on a recent Thanksgiving service for Assembly staff.

Reconvening to address the mounting allegations, lawmakers voted to impeach Obasa, citing abuse of office and gross financial misconduct.

Prior to the impeachment, Eromosele Ebhomele, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, dismissed the allegations as “baseless and absurd.”

Speaking to the media, Ebhomele refuted the claims, stating, “It is so funny. How much is the allocation of the Assembly in a whole year that we would decide to spend N17 billion on a gate? They even claimed that we expended N200 million on a Thanksgiving service that did not hold.”

He further attributed the accusations to political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 elections, saying, “As we approach the 2027 elections, such allegations will arise. I think some people are scared, and I don’t know why.

“This House has not embarked on any such project. We are not that reckless. We had our Thanksgiving last Friday, and dignitaries from various parts of the state attended.”

The Assembly’s spokesperson, Hon. Stephen Ogundipe, also addressed the accusations, emphasising that the House operates with integrity, transparency, and accountability.

Ogundipe clarified, “The Lagos State House of Assembly does not have any such funds. The Assembly does not embark on constituency projects. Instead, once every year, the House holds stakeholders’ meetings simultaneously across the state, where constituents share their expectations and make requests for the betterment of the state.”

He urged the anti-corruption group to conduct thorough investigations before levelling accusations, stating that the lawmakers were neither aware of nor involved in any financial misappropriation.