There was pandemonium in the early hours of Monday as security operatives led by men of the Department of State Services (DSS), stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly and sealed up the offices of the Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, her Deputy and Clerk of the House.
A video of the invasion of the Assembly shared online showed the security men dressed in black jackets and helmets and armed with weapons, engaging in a heated struggle with workers at the chamber’s entrance and disrupting proceedings in the process.
They were also seen barricading the entrance of the Assembly complex located at Alausa, Ikeja, frisking visitors and other passersby.
It was gathered that the invasion of the Lagos House of Assembly may not be unconnected with the ongoing power tussle between the embattled former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who was impeached on January 13, by 32 of the 40 members of the Assembly while he was in the United States.
The impeachment of Obasa and the announcement of Meranda as his replacement has since generated serious tension in the House as Obasa has initiated legal action against the state lawmakers, contesting his removal.
Obasa has filed a motion at the Ikeja Division of the State High Court, seeking his reinstatement, claiming that his impeachment was illegal and a coup against him.
The development has also led to serious controversy as members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) have been divided over Obasa’s removal.
In the suit filed on his behalf by his lawyers, led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), Obasa sought, among other reliefs, an order fixing a date for the expeditious hearing of the originating summons.
He also challenged the legality of his removal, arguing that he was not given a chance to fair hearing as he was impeached in absentia.
He also challenged the constitutionality of the sitting and proceedings of the Lagos State House of Assembly to sit during recess without the Speaker reconvening the House or giving any other person powers to reconvene the House.