NEWSTHE HOUSE

Former Lawmakers Knock Obasa Over Impersonation, Alleged Fraud

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By Felix Kuyinu

Former lawmaker at the Lagos House of Assembly, Olumuyiwa Jimoh, has termed the expression of Mudashiru Obasa addressing himself as the Speaker of the parliamentary House as impersonation.

Jimoh called on the anti-graft agencies to investigate happenings surrounding the alledged financial misconduct of Obasa prior to his dismissal as the Speaker of the chamber.

The legislator who once held the position of the Deputy Majority Speaker at the Assembly reminisced the occurrence of his sacking from the position, which according to him was orchestrated by Obasa. He stated that the former Speaker should take his termination on the chin and forge ahead to the future.

In an interview session with Channels Television on Monday, Jimoh also called for the suspension of Obasa from the Assembly. The former parliamentarian said: “Obasa claims that he is still the speaker, which I think he knows the implication is automatic suspension.

“I feel he should be suspended for that. It is an impersonation. His removal followed constitutional procedures.

“Obasa doesn’t need to be in the House to be impeached,” he continued. “It is stipulated clearly in the constitution in Section 92 sub-section 2. He orchestrated my removal as deputy majority leader by coercing members of the assembly.

“I was not happy that he removed me. I was not notified about the process of my removal. I didn’t contend it because he coerced and intimidated members to sign for my removal. I took it in good fate.

“My removal was done because of my opposition to some of his policies which are anti-democratic.

“It is now time for the EFCC and ICPC To Investigate the allegations of financial impropriety and take necessary actions.”

In like terms, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Wale Mogaji, told newsmen on Monday that Obasa risks suspension from being a legislator if he continues to self acclaim himself as the Assembly Speaker.

Mogaji, who held the posting of a Chairman at the legislative House told newsmen that the incident of the impeached lawmaker parading himself to the designation in Ikeja on Saturday is could lead to serious sanctioning.

He said: “He needs to understand that he is not an elected executive. You cannot compare yourself with an elected governor. That is why your removal as speaker does not stop you from being a member of the parliament.

“My removal as chairman of the Assembly Commission was because Obasa felt I was closer to his predecessor, Ikuforiji. After I was sacked, I approached the National Industrial Court, which ruled that the status quo be maintained, but he refused to obey the court order.

“Not just me, there was a time when the principal officers of the House were removed for no just reason because he suspected they had ambitions to become the speaker. Now that it has happened to him, he should also lick his wounds and bear it like that,” Mogaji said.

 

 

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