JUST IN; Obasa claims Meranda resigns as Lagos State Assembly Speaker

Sacked Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, on Thursday claimed that his successor, Mojisola Meranda, had resigned as leader of the parliament.

Obasa made this assertion during an interview on Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today.

The lawmaker alleged that Meranda resigned during a peace meeting held at the Lagos House in Marina last weekend.

According to him: “At the meeting held in Marina, which was attended by all party leaders, it was made clear—hopefully in the presence of all members—that Meranda herself announced her resignation. She stated that she had stepped down.

“Now, when someone resigns from office, the associated paraphernalia is taken away. So, the question arises: Have you also resigned? Because we understand that part of the arrangement was for you to step down as well.

“Let them present the resignation letter. And if I were to resign, would I still be here? I’m sure you would still address me as Speaker, even though we’ve never had a conversation before.”

BREAKING; Police restore Spraker Meranda’s security detail, explain withdrawal

The Lagos Commissioner of Police (CP) Olohundare Moshood Jimoh has confirmed that the earlier withdrawal of police protection from Lagos Speaker Mojisola Meranda was as a result of personnel audit, dismissing insinuations that the withdrawal was politically motivated.

CP Jimoh made this clarification at a briefing, reiterating that there was an ongoing personnel and arms audit by the police across the country.

The security detail of Merand at her residence and escorts withdrew Thursday morning causing controversy.

Her detail were withdrawn just as those of former speaker, Mudashiru Obasa were reinstated and followed him to the House of the Assembly complex.

According to CP Jimoh, Obasa wrote to the police alleging threat to his life and requested armed protection.

He reemphasised that the police have maintained neutrality and stayed out of politics in the Assembly leadership issue, urging the public not to drag the service into political matters.

“There is an ongoing Police Personnel Audit of our personnel attached to eminent personalities, individuals and groups, and their legal states.

“This is a statutory laid down procedure, which is not limited to Lagos State. The same practice is going on in various commands across the country without any issues. This is to ensure that the police personnel are accounted for, including their firearms and other crime fighting equipment in their possession.

“We are doing this to ensure that they are on their duty post and that their firearms and equipment under their custody is not misused.

“This exercise will equally avail the command the opportunity to discover where police personnel are posted without approval, and those that are on illegal duties and unapproved duty posts, so that we can withdraw those on unapproved duty posts, illegal duty and invalid approvals, and redeploy them on duty to police posts, police stations, police divisions and area commands to provide security and safety for all residents and visitors,” he said.

The police chief explained that with less than 18,000 police strength to secure more than 20 million people, there was need for more personnel to be at police posts, stations, divisions and the command for the safety and adequate protection of life and property of all the people of the state.

“The ongoing police personnel audit is done in public interest and not with any consideration except for the safety of all in the state.

“As we speak, the audit of the police personnel attached to Hon. Mojisola Meranda has been completed and the form-armed police personnel attached to her from the State Police Command have been returned back to her for her protection.

“It is pertinent to state that the ongoing police personnel audit has been on for several days now, and prominent personalities and individuals have been complying with the process. The exercise, once again, is not aimed or targeted at any individuals.

“For prominent personalities or business executives that have no valid approval, or having policemen that are with them under unapproved beats, they are implored to revalidate their approval for those with invalid approval, or apply afresh to the Inspector General of Police for their request to be approved without any delay.

“However, for those whose police personnel are still undergoing the audit process with us, the outcome of the audit will enable the next line of action to be taken by them. I want to send a note of warning that any prominent persons or individuals without approval for police deployment to them, their personnel will be withdrawn throughout the state.

“The Special Protection Unit Department at the Force Headquarters have been mandated to provide security coverage for every Nigerian needing police protection in the country, and will henceforth provide deployment of police personnel for guard duties and personal protection will be centrally done throughout the country.

“In the ongoing personnel audit of some personalities in Lagos, approval for their police personnel attached to them cannot be traced and verified, but they can still apply to the Inspector General of Police for the approval of their request and application of their police need.

“This will be treated on merit as stipulated in the Police Regulations of Guards and Protection of VIPs, Non-VIPs, and other individuals,” he stressed.

On Obasa, the CP said: “There was application from Hon. Mudashiru Obasa on threats to his life and that of his family in the last few days. It was on the basis of that application that police personnel were approved to him for that purpose only.

“The Lagos State Police Command is not aware or in the know of how and where the office of the Speaker of the Lagos State Assembly was broken into. The Lagos State Police Command is neutral in the whole episode and will continue to do so to ensure law and order and public safety and security throughout the length and breadth of Lagos State.

“This, we will not be tired of doing at the Lagos State Police Command. I hereby appeal for calm, for everyone to go about their lawful duty and other responsibilities peacefully.

“The police deployment at the Lagos State House of Assembly has been reinforced and fortified with more Mobile Police Force (PMF) personnel sent. Counter-terrorism units are equally being increased and sent there.

“Special protection units are equally attached there. The Bomb Squad and the Conventional Police Team and Detectives were increased and sent to the State House of Assembly to fortify the security. We also stationed Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and other vehicular patrol teams to prevent any untoward incidents.

“Whatsoever has been done in the Lagos State House of Assembly today, the Lagos State Police Command is not in the know. Police do not have responsibility in the hallowed chamber of the House of Assembly. We are limited to providing adequate security coverage for the House of Assembly and not to be involved in any other matters of politics inside the premises, except if there is complaint that borders on crimes and safety.

“The Lagos State Police Command will continue to be neutral and not to get involved in politics at whatever level. Security situation in the House of Assembly is firmly under control and normalcy has been fully restored.

“Lagosians are enjoined to go about their lawful businesses and other responsibilities without fear as the police are completely resolved to maintain law and order throughout the state, to engender public safety, public security,” he added.

Why we withdraw Police escorts to VIPs top Politicians – CP opens up

The Commissioner of Police for Lagos State, Moshood Jimoh, has stated that the withdrawal of police officers attached to eminent personalities is in the public interest.

He made this known while briefing journalists on Thursday at the command headquarters in Ikeja.

According to him, the ongoing audit of police personnel in Lagos aims to enhance public safety and is not influenced by any other considerations.

“Periodic audits of police personnel attached to VIPs and groups are a statutory police procedure, not limited to the Lagos State Police Command alone,” he said.

He explained that the exercise ensures accountability for police officers, their firearms, and other crime-fighting equipment under their possession.

Additionally, it guarantees that officers remain at their designated duty posts and that their firearms and equipment are not misused.

“As we speak, other police commands across the country are conducting similar audits without any issues,” he added.

The exercise also helps the command identify officers posted without approval or engaged in unauthorised duties so they can be withdrawn.

“Those with invalid approvals or on illegal duties will be redeployed to police posts, stations, divisions, and area commands to strengthen security across Lagos,” he said.

Jimoh emphasised that Lagos, with over 20 million residents, has fewer than 18,000 police officers and urgently needs more personnel at strategic locations.

“The command requires more officers at police stations and divisions to ensure the safety and protection of lives and property in the state,” he noted.

He confirmed that the audit of officers attached to Ms Mojisola Meranda, had been completed, and her four armed personnel had been reinstated.

“The ongoing audit has been in progress for several days, with prominent individuals complying. It is not targeted at any specific person or group,” he clarified.

He urged those with no valid approval or unauthorised police attachments to revalidate their status or apply afresh to the Inspector-General of Police.

“For those still undergoing the audit, the outcome will determine the next steps regarding their police protection,” Jimoh stated.

He warned that police officers attached to individuals without valid approval would be withdrawn across the state.

The Special Protection Units (SPU) at Force Headquarters, he added, have been mandated to provide security coverage for Nigerians requiring police protection.

“Henceforth, all police personnel deployments for guard duties and personal protection will be centrally managed at the Force Headquarters,” he explained.

He noted that some approvals for police attachments in Lagos could not be traced or verified during the audit.

However, affected individuals could apply to the Inspector-General of Police for urgent consideration in line with police regulations.

Jimoh also confirmed that Mr Mudashiru Obasa had recently applied for police protection due to threats against his life and family, which was approved.

He stated that the command was unaware of how or when the Speaker’s office at the Lagos State House of Assembly was broken into.

“The command remains neutral in the matter and is committed to ensuring law, order, and public safety throughout Lagos,” he assured.

He appealed for calm, urging residents to continue their lawful activities peacefully.

“The police presence at the Lagos State House of Assembly has been reinforced with additional Mobile Force Units, Counter-Terrorism Units, and Special Protection Units,” he revealed.

Other reinforcements include Bomb Squads, conventional police teams, detectives, Armoured Personnel Carriers, and patrol teams to prevent any security breaches.

He clarified that the police are responsible for security outside the Assembly premises and do not interfere in political matters unless criminal activities are reported.

“The command will remain neutral and will not be involved in politics. Security at the State House of Assembly is under control, and normalcy has been restored,” he said.

Jimoh urged Lagos residents to continue their daily activities without fear, as the police are committed to maintaining law and order across the state. (NAN)