Though, Rt Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has been returned to his position as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, indicators that all is not well yet within the house are becoming obvious by the day. There are indication that the crisis rocking the assembly may not be ending anytime soon as allegations of a controversial purchase of N5BN backup vehicles for members of the house has deepened the feud Obasa and erstwhile Speaker, Rt (Hon) Mojisola Meranda.
Meranda reportedly oversaw the purchase of the vehicles for the lawmakers during her brief stint in office as Speaker when Obasa was removed. It is reported that Obasa had approved N7bn in December 2024 for the same purpose -with plans in motion for the procurement before he was ousted on January 13, 2025, by 35 of the 40 lawmakers in the House over allegations of highhandedness, and financial misappropriation among others.
Sources said Obasa is contending the purchase of the vehicles without his authorisation, as he already had his plan of purchasing the vehicles from bidder of interest in Dubai. He had approved the money before his removal, but Meranda proceeded with procurement, a move that infuriated Obasa -according to reports.
However, when Meranda took over, she made the contract an open bidding. A source close to Meranda stated that she saved the assembly N2bn by purchasing 32 units of 2025 Toyota Prado SUV and seven units of Toyota Landcruiser 2025 at the sum of N5b, rather than the N7bn allegedly budgeted by Obasa. She also opted not to purchase a vehicle for herself.
Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda never made any withdrawal from the account of LAHA; rather, she only made a downward review of an existing procurement -the source said.
Meanwhile, most members of the house have disagreed with with Obasa’s allegations of fraud against Meranda -in relation to the procurement.
See the documents for the approval and procurement below..
