Two advocacy groups, United Actions for Democracy and Society Against Illegal Demolition & Forced Eviction, have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, over allegations of financial impropriety. The Speaker is accused of spending a staggering ₦17 billion on constructing a gate for the Assembly, an expense critics say is grossly inflated.
At a joint press conference held in Lagos, the groups also urged the EFCC to reopen previous corruption allegations against Speaker Obasa and demanded that the investigation results be made public.
The controversy was reignited by the Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, which recently accused the Assembly of misappropriating public funds for the gate project. According to the coalition, the construction cost is worth no more than ₦15 million. The Speaker has dismissed the accusations, describing them as “spurious and funny.”
However, Opeyemi Ogunlami, Secretary of Society Against Illegal Demolition & Forced Eviction, expressed deep concern over what he termed “irritating impunities” within the Lagos State government.
“They are rulers turned ruiners whose interest lies in amassing wealth while the people endure severe hardships and poverty,” Ogunlami stated. “The claim that ₦15 billion was spent on a gate is absurd and unacceptable, especially in a country grappling with widespread poverty.”
Ogunlami criticized the persistent lack of accountability in Lagos governance, lamenting Speaker Obasa’s continued leadership despite numerous allegations of corruption.
“What we see is a house of impunity, riddled with office abuses and financial misappropriations, undermining Lagos’ growth and global reputation,” he said.
He also alleged that the Agege Local Council Chairman, Ganiyu Egunjobi, has been transferring valuable lands and properties to the Speaker as political favors.
The groups further highlighted alleged fraudulent activities surrounding Constituency Intervention and Project Funds under Speaker Obasa and other principal Assembly officials. They called for clarity on how these public funds are being utilized.
In their petition, the advocacy groups outlined specific demands:
Speaker Obasa should step aside pending the investigation.
The EFCC must ensure an objective and transparent inquiry.
Previous allegations of corruption involving Obasa must be revisited, with findings disclosed to the public.
State officials, particularly governors, should respect the independence of local councils to foster grassroots development.
The groups emphasized that unchecked corruption undermines governance and called on the EFCC to act decisively. “Justice must not be obstructed by political ties or influence,” Ogunlami stressed.
As the EFCC takes up the petition, Lagos residents await answers on the allegations, which have cast a shadow over the state’s leadership and raised pressing questions about financial transparency.
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