A fresh controversy has erupted in the Lagos State House of Assembly over the purchase of N5 billion worth of vehicles for lawmakers. The issue has deepened the existing political feud between Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and his deputy, Mojisola Meranda, who briefly replaced him as Speaker earlier this year.
Investigations reveal that Meranda facilitated the purchase of 39 vehicles while she served as Speaker, a move that has now been challenged by Obasa. The disagreement is fueled by claims that Obasa had originally approved N7 billion for the same purpose before his temporary removal from office.
How the Controversy Started
In December 2024, Obasa, who was the Speaker at the time, reportedly approved the sum of N7 billion to buy vehicles for 40 lawmakers. However, before the transaction was completed, he was removed from office on January 13, 2025. His removal was backed by 35 out of the 40 lawmakers, who accused him of highhandedness and financial mismanagement.
Following Obasa’s removal, Meranda was elected as Speaker and remained in office for 49 days before she resigned on March 3, 2025. Her resignation followed an intervention by the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who brokered a political settlement that saw Obasa reinstated as Speaker, with Meranda returning to her former position as Deputy Speaker.
Despite the political resolution, tensions have remained high in the Assembly, with Obasa still pursuing a legal case against Meranda and the House of Assembly over his removal. The case is being heard in the Lagos State High Court, and Obasa insists that the basis for his removal must be challenged in court.
The Dispute Over the Vehicle Purchase
In the midst of the legal battle, another issue has emerged—the purchase of official vehicles for lawmakers. Sources confirm that while Obasa had planned to purchase the vehicles from a supplier in Dubai, Meranda chose to buy them locally through an open bidding process after she became Speaker.
A source close to Obasa, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that the Speaker was angered by the fact that the vehicles were purchased without his direct approval.
“He had already approved the funds before his removal. However, Meranda proceeded with buying the vehicles from a different supplier, which upset Obasa,” the source said.
Another insider in the Assembly clarified that Meranda did not initiate the vehicle purchase but only executed an existing approval.
“In December, Obasa approved the purchase of those vehicles. But his plan was to buy them from Dubai. When Meranda took over, she decided to make it an open bidding process, which meant the vehicles were no longer sourced from Dubai. That’s the only difference. It is not as if any money was stolen, as some people are suggesting,” the source stated.
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Meranda’s Justification
Meranda’s team has defended her decision, insisting that she actually saved the state N2 billion by making a more cost-effective purchase. According to a source close to her, she spent only N5 billion to acquire 32 units of the 2025 Toyota Prado SUV and seven units of the Toyota Land Cruiser 2025. This, the source claimed, was cheaper than Obasa’s planned purchase of 35 Toyota Fortuner SUVs and 10 Toyota Prado SUVs from Dubai at N7 billion.
The source said, “Let it be known that Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda never withdrew any money from the Assembly’s account. She simply reviewed an already approved transaction and, in doing so, saved the House of Assembly N2 billion.”
The source further explained that unlike Obasa’s plan to import the vehicles, Meranda ensured that all the cars were purchased from local suppliers, thereby supporting Nigerian businesses.
“Interestingly, she spent far less money to acquire better-quality vehicles. She also did not approve a single car for the office of the Speaker, which she occupied at the time,” the source added.
Obasa’s Legal Battle Continues
Despite his reinstatement as Speaker, Obasa remains committed to his legal battle against his former colleagues in the House of Assembly. His lawyer, Chief Fashanu Afolabi (SAN), explained why the Speaker is continuing with the lawsuit.
“There are still pending allegations against Obasa, including accusations of highhandedness and fraudulent practices. We believe these allegations must be properly addressed in court,” Afolabi stated.
On Monday, Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja adjourned the case until March 17, 2025. The hearing was initially scheduled for March 10 but was postponed after Obasa’s legal team submitted additional affidavits.