The impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has described the corruption allegations leading to his removal as “fictitious and unsubstantiated.”

Speaking on Saturday during a welcome rally at his residence in the Government Reserved Area (GRA), Ikeja, Obasa maintained that his impeachment process was fraught with irregularities.

Obasa alleged that his removal was orchestrated during his absence from the country, accusing the Lagos State Commissioner of Police of playing a key role in facilitating the process.

According to him, security operatives led by the police commissioner invaded the assembly complex and his residences in Agege and Ikeja, detaining his family members with over 200 officers deployed.

Addressing the allegations of misappropriation, including claims that a gate construction cost N16 billion, Obasa dismissed them as baseless. Mocking the accusation, he said, “Is it the wall of Jericho?”

The former speaker clarified that he was not intimidated by his impeachment, stating, “I am not afraid of being removed, after all, it is not my father’s chieftaincy title. I am representing my people, and they have returned me six times. If you want to do anything, do it well.”

Obasa criticized the manner in which the impeachment was carried out, citing precedents where removals within the assembly adhered to established norms.

He referenced the impeachment of former Speaker Rt. Hon. Jokotola Pelumi and former Deputy Speaker Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, noting that neither process involved police intervention.

“The Lagos State House of Assembly is above the common standard of excellence. An innocent person should not be discredited without clear evidence of wrongdoing,” he added.

Obasa expressed gratitude to the members of the Governance Advisory Council and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whom he described as a brother.

Mudashiru Obasa was impeached on January 13 by over two-thirds of the 40-member legislative house over alleged misconduct and other offences.

His deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was immediately sworn in as the new Speaker, making history as the first female to occupy the position in Lagos State.

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During a media chat held on Thursday, Governor Sanwo-Olu revealed that civil servants in Lagos State, ranging from Level 1 to 14, will now adopt a hybrid work model. They will be required to physically attend their workplaces three times a week and work virtually for the remaining two days.

The governor also announced a significant 25% reduction in public transportation fares across the state.

“The first thing that we will be doing in the state going forward is that we want to start with our own public servants, to say that even the challenges that we’ve seen now, can we be creative and have flexible working hours?

“So, immediately from next week, we are working out a plan where civil servants from Level 1 to 14 will come to the office a maximum of three times a week. Not that any form of government will be shut down; it will be all calendarised and it will be scheduled.

“Levels 15 to 17 will miss work a day. What are we trying to achieve? We are seeking to achieve a process whereby people will even slow down and reduce the pressure on the work environment.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasised the state government’s commitment to maintaining a harmonious work environment by avoiding a “charged, aggravated workforce.” The implementation of a hybrid work schedule, he explained, aims to curtail the frequency of physical attendance at workplaces, thus alleviating pressure on both the roads and the economic strain on workers.

The governor highlighted the expected benefits of this measure in reducing commuting-related challenges and lessening the overall economic burden on employees.

Against the backdrop of recent nationwide protests, including in Ogun, Oyo, Kano, Niger, and other parts of the country, citizens have voiced their grievances over the prevailing hardships. Issues such as food inflation, the high cost of living, and challenging living conditions have been attributed to factors like the removal of the petrol subsidy, the forex crisis, among others.

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Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said his administration was committed to justice and truth as it relates to the report of the state’s #EndSARS panel.

It would be recalled that the panel had on November 15 submitted its report.  Although the state government is yet to make its contents public with a White Paper expected on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a leaked version of the report indicted the Nigerian Army and the Lagos state government in the killing of unarmed protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate and a subsequent cover-up.

It is not yet clear how the report was leaked.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said the leakage was regrettable.

“While I commend the panel for undertaking its task to the best of its abilities, it is however regrettable that the panel’s work and the leakage of an unauthorized version of the report have generated much tension. Sadly, a deep wound has been reopened.

“The heated exchanges among various shades of opinion on the report have unfortunately put us all at the risk of missing the larger picture; the fact that what we all seek in common is a land in which we are all safe and secure, law enforcement agents are trusted, and justice is guaranteed for all.

“As I have stated earlier, we have no intention to engage in histrionics or further inflame passion on a matter that has generated intense interest and controversy nationally and internationally. Our decisions and actions will be based entirely on the law, the weight of evidence, and an unblemished respect for the truth”, the governor added.

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The governor, who condemned the policy during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, submitted that the programme is not working.

“We don’t like the current anti-grazing policy, it is not working.

“We are not just going with the crowd about Anti-Grazing law. If you sign anti-grazing law and it is not working, is it worth it?

“One thing all the northern governors have decided, we said that the current method of open grazing is old-fashioned, outdated, and cannot be sustained”, the governor said.

Inline with the resolution of the Nigerian Southern Governors Forum that member-states should enact the law prohibiting open grazing to align with the uniform template and aspiration of the governors, the Lagos state gaffer, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday (Monday) signed the anti-open grazing bill into law.

Meanwhile, at the meeting held last week Thursday in Enugu, the governors lauded  the rate at which the states in the South were enacting the law, just as they encouraged others to do so expeditiously.

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The speaker stated this when he featured on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm, in reaction to speculations that he was making a move to contest the governorship election in Lagos in 2023.

“No, I don’t have any such plan; I have no immediate plan.

“I have a job that I am doing now, a very tough job; sometimes the most difficult job but people don’t understand”, he said.

Gbajabiamila has been representing Surulere I Federal Constituency in the House since 1999, and emerged as the Speaker in 2019.

The lawmaker said the incumbent Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is doing quite well despite the challenges he faces. He added that since the governor was elected into office, he has proven himself as a diligent public office holder.

Gbajabiamila continued, “I don’t want distractions. I am working as the Speaker of the House of Representatives with a lot of responsibilities on my shoulders right now; any other thing will be a distraction.

“As for the Lagos State governorship (election), I have not even thought about it and why? (because) the present governor of Lagos State is doing a good job.

“The fact that we had a one-term governor at one time does not mean it is going to be the same. The governor is doing a good job under the circumstances – these are difficult times in the last two years and he’s come out well”, the speaker submitted.

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President Buhari, also vowed that his administration will act firmly and decisively ‘‘against any and all persons fomenting or carrying out attacks on our Police Force and other security personnel.’’

The President reechoed his position at the handing over of security equipment by the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to the Lagos State Police Command during his one-day official visit to the State.

Buhari warned that ‘‘a nation that turns its Police personnel and infrastructure into targets of violence and destruction is a nation on the path of self-destruction.

‘‘As Commander-in-chief, my primary responsibility remains the security of the country and the safety of all citizens. Despite the many challenges we are facing, I want Nigerians to rest assured that we will secure this country.

‘‘We will secure our infrastructure, our highways, our communities, and our forests, and we will secure the lives of our people,’’ he added.

He told members of the Nigeria Police that as the government strives to improve their welfare and capacity, the citizens equally had expectations from them.

‘‘First, let me commend the Inspector-General of Police and the entire Force for the recent efforts to restore peace to troubled parts of the country.

‘‘I have charged the Inspector-General to leave no stone unturned in rebuilding the morale of his officers and men, especially in the aftermath of the mindless violence associated with the EndSARS protests, as well as the recent spate of attacks on Police Stations in some parts of the country”.

While lauding the Lagos governor on the newly acquired security equipment and assets, the President noted that it would go a long way in boosting the morale of the Police, and further enhance their capacity to fight crime and combat criminality.

He said, “This is even more touching in the light of the unwarranted violence that ensued in the wake of the ENDSARS protests last October, which saw the security architecture in Lagos State being severely damaged”.

The President added that it was commendable that Lagos State, the Centre of Excellence, has shown a truly resilient spirit, in the face of the massive destruction it suffered last October.

‘‘You did not allow yourselves to be deterred by the severe setback; instead you have bounced back and are now boldly rebuilding the confidence of residents and investors in the State.

‘‘I acknowledge the initiative taken to kick-start the rebuilding process, through the establishment of the Lagos State Rebuild Trust Fund, and through this very laudable effort by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund. I enjoin other State Governments to emulate your bold, proactive and resourceful initiative.

The President also used the occasion to reiterate that the ‘‘Federal Government takes very seriously our constitutional oath to secure the lives and properties of the Nigerian people, adding that his administration was conscious of the fact that lasting security is a necessary foundation for business, investment, and true prosperity.

President Buhari declared that no Federal government since 1999 has been as committed as his administration in reforming and repositioning the Nigeria Police Force and national policing architecture.

‘‘In 2019, I signed into law the Act establishing the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, the first in the history of the Force, to provide guaranteed funding to support Police welfare, logistics, and equipment.

‘‘In September 2020, I assented to the Bill amending the Nigeria Police Act, which was originally enacted in 1943.

‘‘This new Act, a vast improvement over the old one, among other things spells out the modalities for the implementation of a National Community Policing Scheme in Nigeria.

‘‘This new scheme will build confidence within our local communities and make them active stakeholders in the safety and security of their environs.

‘‘We are currently recruiting 10,000 new Police officers to reinforce our personnel capacity across the country. In addition to this, I have directed the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to carry out an upward review of Police salaries and benefits”, the President continued.

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The state Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, in a statement on Wednesday noted that the figure was recorded as of April 15.

According to the Commissioner, those vaccinated include health workers, as well as frontline workers such as security officials, ports of entry staff, judiciary, petrol station workers, contingency workers, and strategic leaders.

He explained that the government went a step further to vaccinate willing pensioners, people aged 70 and above, teachers, and journalists during the same period.

He added that the government has concluded the first half of phase one of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, in line with the directive of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA).

The Commissioner, who noted that the exercise began on March 12, also said the first phase, which took an average of 20 days, followed the Federal Government’s directive to stop vaccination once half of the consignment had been administered to ensure the second doses were administered.

“This will ensure that at least one per cent of Lagos residents receive the full complement of doses required to enable the protection the vaccine promises. The target to achieve effective herd immunity is vaccination of at least 60 per cent of the Lagos State population.

“The exercise lapsed on Tuesday, April 13. Consequently, the government has shut down all its vaccination centres,” he said.

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state has disclosed that the rail projects constructed by the state government will gulp over ₦100bn.

The governor, who revealed this during an interview on Channels Television Sunday Politics, said, “It is a lot of money, it is well over N100 billion.

“I don’t criticise my predecessors but indeed for whatever planning or reasons, he never funded it. When we came back last two years, the contractor has since moved from about 55 per cent to about 93 per cent in terms of the physical construction of phase 1”.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also accused the administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of not given the state government the right of way for the construction of the light rail.

He assured the residents of the state to expect the rail project delivered by the last quarter of 2022.

He also spoke on water transportation in the nation’s commercial capital, noting that his administration has targeted a daily movement of 70,000 passengers.

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Lagos state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday flagged off the ‘red line’ rail project which, when completed, has the capacity to commute at least one million persons daily. 

The governor, while speaking at the flag-off held at the proposed site of the Ikeja Train Station explained that the 37-km Rail Mass Transit will traverse from Agbado to Marina, noting that it would become operational by the last quarter of 2022.

He said, “Since efficient transportation is the backbone of any economy, we are happy to be committing this investment in our transport infrastructure, so that our people can meet their daily targets and aspirations.

“This all-important transport project we are all gathered to witness today represents a major step in this direction.”

The rail corridor will be constructed in three phases, the first – Agbado-Iddo – will be completed in two years and will share the track with the Lagos-Ibadan Railway Modernisation Project up to Ebute – Metta.

It will also have a dedicated track from Ebute-Metta to Oyingbo and reduce travel time from about two and a half hours to just 35 minutes. The passenger capacity of the first phase is 500,000 per day, according to a statement by the Lagos state government.

At the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu also presented cheques to property owners affected by the right-of-way and described the project as part of his government’s effort to deliver quality infrastructure for the transport system.

The event, had in attendance the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi among other dignitaries.

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The 60 suspects, made up of 12 females and 48 males, were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Adeola Adebayo under the new Anti-Cultism Law of Lagos.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had fifteen days ago signed the anti-cultism bill into law.

The new law, “Prohibition of Unlawful Societies and Cultism of 2021” seeks to combat cultism in Lagos State by giving stiffer punishments to convicted cultists and those abetting them.

It prescribes a 21-year jail term for convicted cultists and a 15-year jail time for those found guilty of abetting cultism and cultists.

In the charge sheet signed by SP Yetunde Cardoso, the Officer in Charge of Legal, Lagos State Police Command, the majority of those arraigned today were arrested in Ikorodu between February and March on allegations of belonging to the Aiye cult and other unlawful societies.

Some of them were also charged with being in possession of arms and causing a breach of the peace.

Twelve of the 60 were also charged with conspiracy and the murder of one John Anibaba contrary to S222(1) Criminal Law of Lagos.

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