Lagos Assembly crisis worsens over alleged purchase of N5bn vechicles
There is indication that the crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly may not be ending anytime soon as allegations of controversial purchase of N5BN vehicles for 40 lawmakers has deepened the feud between the Speaker of the House, Rt (Hon) Mudashiru Obasa and erstwhile Speaker, Rt (Hon) Mojisola Meranda.
Meranda reportedly led the purchase of about 39 vehicles for the lawmakers during the period Obasa was removed as Speaker.
However, it was further gathered that Obasa had in December 2024 allegedly approved N7bn for the same purpose with plans in motion before he was ousted on January 13, 2025, by about 35 of the 40 lawmakers at the House over allegations of highhandedness, and financial misappropriation among others.
Meranda, who was then made the Speaker by the lawmakers, presided over the House for 49 days until March 3 when she resigned.
Sources privy to the development said Obasa is contending the purchase of the vehicles without his authorisation, as the Speaker had his plan of purchasing the vehicles from Dubai from his bidder of interest.
“He had approved the money before his removal. But Meranda proceeded with buying them, a move that infuriated Obasa,” a source said.
“In December, Obasa approved the purchase of those vehicles. But for him, the vehicles were to be bought from Dubai but when Meranda took over, she made it an open bidding. They weren’t bought in Dubai anymore. That is just the difference. So it’s not as if they stole money as it’s been propagated.The purchase or execution was only done under Meranda. Obasa already approved it. There is a difference between between approval and execution,” a source in the Assembly said.
However, a source close to Meranda stated that she only saved 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.
“Let it be known that Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda never made any withdrawal from the account of LAHA; rather, she only made a downward review of an existing procurement approval by Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa. In doing that, she saved the assembly the sum of N2 billion,” he stated.
He said Obasa had allegedly done an approval for the purchase of 35 units of Toyota Fortuner SUV and 10 units of Toyota Prado from Dubai at N7bn.
“As a matter of fact, he made the approval on December 23, 2024. Upon his removal, Rt.Hon. Mojisola Meranda reviewed the approval and called for a bidding locally and approved the sum of N5b for 32 units of 2025 Toyota Prado SUV and seven units of Toyota Landcruiser 2025 at the sum of N5b, saving N2b for the House. Unlike Obasa who had planned to import the vehicles from Dubai, all the cars were locally supplied. It is imperative to note that no money was withdrawn by Rt.Hon. Meranda, she only reviewed an existing approval. Interestingly, Hon. Meranda spent far less money to acquire better quality cars and didn’t even approve a single one for the office of the Speaker that she occupied,” he added.
Meanwhile, both Obasa and Meranda are yet to officially respond to the allegations and counter allegations.
The Punch
