The former speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa, has vehemently denied reports that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) discovered firearms in his office. Obasa dismissed the claims as part of an orchestrated effort by his detractors to tarnish his reputation.
Reports claimed that DSS operatives had seized a stash of pump-action rifles from the office of Obasa’s chief security officer (CSO) during a routine sweeping operation. The report also mentioned that live cartridges were found.
When initially contacted by journalists for comment, Obasa did not respond. However, other media outlets later suggested that the arms had been found directly in Obasa’s office rather than his CSO’s, as originally reported.
Obasa, who was ousted as speaker on January 13 while he was abroad and replaced by Mojisola Meranda, returned to Lagos and refused to accept his removal. He declared himself the legitimate speaker, asserting that due process had not been followed.
Responding to the claims, Obasa issued a statement denying the firearms allegations, calling them a baseless attempt to defame him. He clarified that his office had been broken into while he was away and that Meranda had been occupying it in his absence.
“This alleged discovery of arms is an afterthought by my enemies, who are desperate after sensing the futility of their illegal actions,” Obasa said in his statement. He likened the situation to the “planted camera at the Lekki Toll Gate” following the End SARS protests, claiming that the alleged discovery made no sense.
Obasa further explained that Meranda, upon resuming office, had performed prayers and cleansing rituals in the space, which had been without issue for a month. He also expressed his frustration with ongoing false accusations against him, including unfounded claims of extravagant spending, such as building a N16 billion gate and purchasing a N40 billion Toyota Hilux truck.
The former speaker accused his critics of continually attempting to gather misleading information to blackmail him. He claimed to have evidence of his aides being approached by individuals seeking to extract compromising information.
Obasa emphasized that these ongoing attempts to smear his name would ultimately fail, and he vowed to hold those behind the false stories accountable. “Their lies are nothing but from the pit of hell,” he declared, urging the public to disregard the allegations as baseless.
As the saga continues, Obasa remains resolute in his assertion of his innocence, rejecting any attempt to tarnish his legacy.
