Heavily armed operatives of the Department of State Security, DSS, and Nigeria Police reportedly stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly early Monday, sealing the offices of Speaker Mojisola Meranda, her deputy, and the clerk of the house.
By 10 a.m., armed security personnel had taken control of the Assembly premises in Alausa, Ikeja, conducting thorough searches on passersby. Meranda, however, arrived with her convoy at about 11:15 a.m.
The development comes as former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa continues to challenge his removal from office. Obasa, who was ousted by 32 out of 40 lawmakers on January 13 while he was in the United States, has taken legal action against the Assembly.
A motion has been filed at the Ikeja Division of the State High Court, where he is pushing for an accelerated hearing of his case. His removal has sparked controversy, with the Governance Advisory Council, GAC, the highest political decision-making body in the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos, split over the issue.
President Bola Tinubu had described Obasa’s removal as a “coup,” further intensifying the political standoff. The court’s decision on the matter is now highly anticipated, as the crisis within the state legislature deepens.
