Police authorities in Lagos State have reinstated the security personnel attached to Mojisola Meranda, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, following their earlier withdrawal on Thursday morning.
The withdrawal had sparked heightened tension amidst the ongoing speakership tussle in the Lagos Assembly. However, during a briefing later in the day, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, clarified that the withdrawal was part of a routine personnel audit and not linked to the Assembly’s internal issues.
The swift restoration of the security details has eased concerns about the situation’s potential impact on legislative operations.
“As I speak with you, the audit of the police personnel attached to Hon. Mojisola Meranda has been completed, and the police personnel attached to her from the Lagos State Police Command have been returned to her for her protection,” the commissioner said on Thursday evening.
“It is pertinent to state that the ongoing police personnel audit has been on for several days now, and prominent personalities and individuals have been complying with the process. The exercise, once again, is not aimed or targeted at any individuals,” the commissioner told the gathering.
‘Never Been Removed’?
The withdrawal of Meranda’s security aides added a fresh twist to the Lagos State Assembly crisis. The Apapa lawmaker had replaced Mudashiru Obasa as the speaker of the assembly after the latter was accused of impropriety.
But on Thursday, Obasa stepped into the Lagos Assembly complex with some of his supporters and insisted he is still the speaker of the House.
At the entrance of the Assembly, his supporters were heard chanting solidarity songs for the Agege I Constituency lawmaker.
“Obasa is the speaker,” he told reporters in one of his few public appearances since he was removed.
“I’ve never been removed. Impeachment or removal is democratic and constitutional but in doing that, you must follow the due process. I am not against that. If I do that, then I am not democratic,” Obasa insisted.
However, some Lagos lawmakers loyal to Meranda rejected Obasa’s insistence and argued that Meranda remains the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The Lagos Assembly crisis reached a new level on February 17 when some security agents and legislative workers had a clash in the House. But thirty-six lawmakers passed a vote of confidence on Meranda thereafter.