The former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has vehemently denied reports alleging that security operatives uncovered firearms in his office.
On Tuesday, multiple online reports claimed that officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) discovered 47 pump-action guns during a visit to the assembly complex on Monday. While some versions of the report suggested that the weapons were found in Obasa’s office, others alleged they were discovered in the office of the former Chief Security Officer.
However, in a statement released on Wednesday—personally signed by Obasa and also shared by his media aide—the former Speaker dismissed the allegations as “a complete concoction.” The statement, titled “DSS Uncovers Arms Cache in Obasa’s Office Day After Lagos Assembly Drama”, described the claims as an orchestrated attempt to tarnish his reputation.
Obasa lambasted those behind the report, accusing them of being driven by malicious intent.
> “The ill-conceived story, apart from being a complete concoction, clearly exposes its author and paymasters as maliciously of low intelligence quotient, only out to malign my hard-earned reputation spanning decades of political leadership and legislative hard work,” he stated.
Obasa further ridiculed the narrative, arguing that it was inconsistent and riddled with desperation. He pointed out that by the time of the alleged discovery, he was no longer Speaker, as his ouster had already taken place.
> “It is public knowledge that I travelled abroad towards the end of December and returned in January, by which time I had been removed—a matter that is currently before the court of law for adjudication.”
He also alleged that after his removal, his office and the Assembly Chamber were forcefully broken into and thoroughly searched, suggesting that any claims of a “sudden discovery” of firearms were fabricated.
“Immediately their sinister act was carried out while the House was on recess, my office (the Speaker’s Office) and the Assembly Chamber were forcefully broken into and thoroughly ransacked by their assigned officers.
I consider their purported sudden discovery of a ‘cache of arms’ in the Speaker’s Office as nothing but an afterthought, having sensed the futility of their illegal actions,” he added.
Meanwhile, a source within the DSS dismissed the allegations, affirming to PUNCH Online on Tuesday that no weapons were uncovered during their visit to the Lagos Assembly. This contradicts the viral reports, further casting doubt on the authenticity of the claims.
With legal battles already unfolding over his removal as Speaker, Obasa appears to be facing yet another controversy—one that he insists is nothing more than a politically motivated smear campaign.
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