Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Metanda, a female lawmaker representing Apapa I, has emerged as the new Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Meranda, who was the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, emerged following the impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa as the Speaker of the Assembly over gross misconduct and abuse of office.
Obasa was impeached by his fellow lawmakers on Monday, January 13.
While the details of his impeachment are still sketchy, it was gathered that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been petitioned to investigate Obasa over allegations of financial misconduct, breach of public trust, and abuse of office.
A petition filed by the Progressive Youth Movement of Ikeja, Lagos State, accused Obasa of using proxy companies to embezzle funds from the Lagos House of Assembly and violating due process and procurement regulations.
The petition, dated December 17, alleged that the Finance Management Committee had not met officially since the 10th Assembly was inaugurated, allowing Obasa to make unauthorised financial decisions.
The Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition previously filed a petition with the EFCC to investigate allegations of mismanaging N17 billion earmarked for constructing a gate at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
According to the petition, the Progressive Youth Movement alleged that the Speaker awarded N469 million contract for the Construction of Ikeja Local Government Secretariat to Orgnitek Consult Limited, identifying it as one of the companies used to perpetrate his fraudulent activities.
The group also alleged that the Speaker approved N200 million for thanksgiving at the Lagos State House of Assembly, saying it shouldn’t have cost more than N2 million.
