Lagos State House of Assembly has on Monday, June 8 exonerated the speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa and other indicted lawmakers from an allegation of financial misappropriation and abuse of office to enrich themselves. Investigation revealed that Lagos State House of Assembly set up a 9-man fact-finding Ad hoc Committee on the allegation against the house and the speaker.
Headed by Barrister Victor Akande, the committee was mandated to investigate the allegation which constituted defamation and libel against the integrity of Obasa, his wife and Clerk of the House, Azeez Sanni.
Following the effect of the allegation by Sahara reporter on the Speaker’s prestige and integrity, the Lagos Assembly formed an investigating committee to investigate the authenticity of the allegation.
In the alleged allegation, it was stated that Hon. Obasa has 64 accounts in different banks like Eco Bank, Polaris bank, Access bank just to mention a few.
It was also alleged that Obasa collected N80million for 17 other lawmakers for a seminar in Dubai and the United States which did not hold. $Sahara reporter also alleged that Rt. Hon Obasa collected N60 Million to entertain social media.
It was also alleged that the speaker Obasa purchased 80 cars without due process by the house. In addition, the allegation revealed that Mudashiru Obasa collected monthly N10million for his wife.
Also that Hon. Speaker had three companies named Adisa Ventures and Sweet Ventures used to award contracts.
That Obasa collected N17Million to renovate personal house and N45, 000,000 for Christmas party that was not held. However, the committee headed by Barrister Victor Akande invited the indicted personalities like the Clerk, Azeez Sanni, Hon. Tunde Braimoh, Chairman House Committee on Information, Deputy Speaker, Hon Esinlokun Sanni and the representatives of Access bank, Polaris Bank and Wema bank, Hon. Speaker Obasa to come to the round table to explain the allegation.
However, the committee was informed that Obasa has only two accounts with Polaris Bank and the two accounts are dormant.
A senior Eco Bank official said the speaker had only one bank account with Eco Bank and a personal account with BVN. He said the allegation of Sahara reporter was false and unfounded. He said the Speaker did not change his names as alleged.
The bank official said it is illegal for bank official to release confidential matters of customers to private individuals.
The Wema Bank Official said it is impossible for a customer to have different names on his accounts and that Sahara reporter only stated the account number but not BVN, saying the account has no link with speaker Obasa.
Deputy Speaker Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun Sanni, debunked the allegation that he and 17 others collected N17 Million as Estacode. Hon. Eshinlokun described the allegation as malicious and baseless. He said no money was given to the Clerk of the House, Azeez Sanni, for any end of the year party.
Nevertheless at the end of the debate Hon. Sanai Agunbiade who referred to the recommendation exonerated the speaker, Clerk and others and he called for a vote of confidence for the speaker and his deputy.
This motion was unanimously supported by the lawmakers, saying all the allegations were baseless and unfounded. Less we forget Hon. Abiodun Tobun said, “it is unfortunate that the Sahara accusers did not surface during the investigation”.
Tobun said the allegation of N25million for identity cards and invitation cards was false. Tobun, therefore, begged the accusers to leave Lagos Assembly, saying Australia seminar was approved and purchase of cars for lawmakers were also approved.
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