Lagos Assembly Crisis Deepens as Lawmakers Storm DSS Office Over Detained Colleagues

The ongoing crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly escalated on Thursday as two lawmakers, Hon. Lanre Afinni and Hon. Sylvester Ogunkelu, were detained at the Department of State Security (DSS) office. The detention follows allegations that the two were involved in the alleged break-in at the Clerk’s office, where the mace used to effect the removal of former Speaker Hon. Mudashiru Obasa was taken.

Sources within the Assembly revealed that the lawmakers were being interrogated by the DSS in connection with the incident. The removal of Hon. Obasa, which occurred on January 13, 2025, was orchestrated by 35 out of the 40 members of the House over allegations of misconduct and mismanagement of funds. Obasa’s removal saw his deputy, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, take over as Speaker.

Obasa, however, has consistently maintained that his removal was unconstitutional and lacked due process, asserting that he remains the legitimate Speaker of the Assembly.

In response to the detention of their colleagues, Deputy Speaker Hon. Mojeed Fatai, along with several other lawmakers, visited the DSS office in an effort to secure their release. A source at the DSS confirmed the detention of Afinni and Ogunkelu but noted that one of them had been released on health grounds.

The crisis within the Assembly continues to deepen, as political tensions rise over the leadership dispute.