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N5bn Vehicle Purchase Deepens Obasa, Meranda Feud
“Let it be known that Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda never made any withdrawal from the Assembly’s account. Rather, she reviewed an existing approval by Obasa, saving the Assembly N2 billion,”
A fresh controversy has engulfed the Lagos State House of Assembly following the disputed purchase of N5 billion worth of vehicles for lawmakers, escalating tensions between Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and his short-lived successor, Mojisola Meranda.
The issue stems from a procurement process initiated during Obasa’s temporary removal from office earlier this year. Meranda, who presided as Speaker for 49 turbulent days before stepping down in March, reportedly oversaw the acquisition of 39 vehicles—despite an earlier approval of N7 billion by Obasa for the same purpose.
Sources familiar with the matter claim that Obasa had planned to source the vehicles from Dubai before his ousting on January 13 by a majority of the Assembly over allegations of financial mismanagement and highhandedness. However, upon assuming the Speaker’s chair, Meranda opted for an open bidding process and sourced the vehicles locally, reportedly saving N2 billion in the process.
An aide to Obasa, speaking anonymously, said the Speaker was furious that Meranda executed the procurement without his authorisation. “In December, he approved the purchase, but for vehicles from Dubai. When Meranda took over, she made it an open bidding process and sourced them locally. That’s the real issue,” the aide said.
Meanwhile, Meranda’s camp has defended her actions, arguing that the procurement adhered to existing approvals and that the decision to source the vehicles locally was more cost-effective. “Let it be known that Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda never made any withdrawal from the Assembly’s account. Rather, she reviewed an existing approval by Obasa, saving the Assembly N2 billion,” a source close to Meranda stated.
Despite being reinstated as Speaker following the intervention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership, Obasa remains locked in a legal battle with Meranda and the Assembly. His lawsuit, still pending before the Lagos State High Court, challenges the legitimacy of his removal, with his lawyer, Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), arguing that the allegations of financial misconduct must be resolved in court.
The ongoing legal tussle, coupled with the controversy over the vehicle procurement, suggests that the Lagos Assembly’s leadership crisis is far from over. Justice Yetunde Pinheiro has adjourned the case to March 17, 2025, as the political drama in Nigeria’s most influential state legislature continues to unfold.
News
How 2018 Federal Legal Advice Exonerated Saraki In Offa Robbery Case
In light of the Kwara State Government’s fresh prosecution of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and his successor over the Offa robbery, fresh facts have emerged on why the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr. E. U. (Etsu Umar) Mohammed gave the duo a clean bill of health.
The Federal Director of Public Prosecutions cleared former Senate President Bukola Saraki of involvement in the Offa bank robbery in 2018, citing no evidence of a connection.
It was gathered that the DPP reviewed a 16-page police report prepared and signed by Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police and then head of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IGP-IRT) at Force Headquarters, Abuja. The report detailed investigations into the April 5, 2018, multiple bank robbery attack in Offa, Kwara State.
The DPP in his first report dated June 22, 2018 and signed on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, prepared a five page legal advice in which he noted in paragraph 5 (f) that “for the Senate President (Saraki) and the Kwara State Governor (Ahmed), his office is unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged offence and the suspects. Hence, it is our advice that further and thorough investigation in this regard be carried out”.
Following the submission of a second report by the police investigating team to his office on July 27, 2018, the DPP prepared a second legal advice, which was dated August 23, 2018. The three-page legal advice also has only three paragraphs.
In paragraph 3 (vi), he noted that “with regards to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, since there is no departure from the earlier findings in the interim report, this office is still unable to establish any prima facie case against him for any offences of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and culpable homicide punishable with death”.
Both legal advices had recommended six people for prosecution. They are: Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Ibrahim, Salawudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran, and Michael Adiukwu.
One of the suspects, Michael Adiukwu, later died in police custody, while the other five had since been tried at the High Court in Ilorin.
During the trial, the suspects revealed how they were coerced into incriminating Senator Bukola Saraki.
They mentioned several inducements dangled before them, including money and the promise of a visa to travel out of the country.
The suspects have since been convicted and their convictions confirmed by the Court of Appeal. The matter is now pending before the apex court, the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
News
₦400m Ransom Demanded As Gunmen Abduct Another Kwara Ruler
Terrorists have abducted a traditional ruler in Olayinka community, located in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Oba Salman Olátúnjí Aweda and are demanding a ₦400 million ransom for his release.
The abduction occurred on April 18, 2026, when armed men, suspected to be militia herdsmen, invaded the community and took the monarch, his wife, and another resident into the forest.
According to JomogNews, residents who witnessed the incident said the terrorists, numbering over 10, invaded the monarch’s residence around Saturday midnight, forced the door open, and abducted him alongside another person in the house.
The assailants reportedly led both victims into the bush.
Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Area, Mr Abdulrasheed Femi Yusuf, visited the community on Saturday on a sympathy visit and assured residents that efforts were underway to secure the monarch’s release.
“We are deeply concerned about this incident, and we are taking swift and decisive action in collaboration with security agencies,” he said.
News
Living Faith Church Founder Declares Week Of Vengeance Against Insecurity Sponsors
Bishop David Oyedepo, General Overseer of Living Faith Church Worldwide, has declared that bandits and their sponsors will face divine judgment and retribution within seven days.
Speaking on Sunday, April 19, 2026, during a service themed “Covenant Day of Vengeance” at the church’s headquarters in Ota, Ogun State, the cleric stated that those responsible for killings and kidnappings would face imminent consequences.
“I declare judgement on those who caused these tragedies and their supporters in the name of Jesus,” he said.
The cleric further asserted that divine retribution would occur within a short timeframe.
“Unless I am not sent, this will happen in the next seven days,” he added.
Oyedepo also expressed confidence that Nigerians would soon witness outcomes of what he described as divine intervention, noting that the coming days would bring “testimonies of vengeance.”
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