Operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) have allegedly uncovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from an office space in the Lagos State House of Assembly allegedly being used by one Baruwa Idris Okeowo.
Baruwa, a retired service man is the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the embattled former Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa.
The House of Assembly has been embroiled in a leadership tussle following the removal of Obasa as the Speaker of the Assembly.
He was on January 13, 2025, removed by a majority of lawmakers over alleged misconduct, abuse of office, and financial misappropriations.
Obasa was replaced by former Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
Upon his return, Obasa insisted that due process was not followed and maintained that he was still the legitimate Speaker.
Earlier on Monday, the leadership tussle took a new twist with heavy security presence at the premises during a plenary session.
Security vans and personnel were spotted in and outside the premises of the Lagos Assembly complex in the Alausa Area of the commercial city.
There was a mild drama when some of the security agents tried to gain access to the Assembly chambers. These delayed the plenary for some hours.
It was however discovered it was the Assembly leadership who requested DSS operatives to boost security ahead of February 18, citing potential security threats from Obasa’s planned resumption as Speaker.
While the lawmakers passed a vote of confidence in Meranda, sources told SaharaReporters that men of the secret police after the plenary discovered a cache of pump action rifles and ammunition in an office used by Obasa’s CSO in the Assembly complex.
“The DSS invited to the complex by the leadership during their routine sweeping exercise, discovered a stack of new arms, including pump action numbering about 47, and live cartridges neatly kept somewhere within the Speaker’s office space. The particular space was used by Baruwa Idris Okeowo, his CSO before the impeachment saga,” a source said.
“They then took inventory of the arms and also take them into custody.”
However, a source close to the ousted Speaker described the discovery by the DSS operatives as “jokes taken too far”.
The source added that Obasa is yet to be invited by the secret police over the incident.
“He is yet to be invited by any security agencies, isn’t it funny? Same office they brought prayer warriors to, same office she (Meranda) and other members had several meetings, so how come guns and arms were just discovered in same office. It’s nothing but a form of blackmailing, that’s what they have been doing before.”