Police grills two Lagos Assembly members over Speakership Crisis

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has questioned Lanre Afinni and Sylvester Ogunkelu, two members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, regarding the ongoing crisis within the assembly.

According to Sahara Reporters, multiple sources on Thursday, while Ogunkelu was detained by the police, the other lawmaker, Afinni was granted administrative bail over health challenges on Wednesday.

Recall that the House has been in the news since January 13 when Mudashiru Obasa was removed as Speaker and replaced with his deputy, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, while he was away in United States.

Recall that Since January 13, the state House of Assembly has been in the spotlight after Mudashiru Obasa was removed as Speaker while he was out of the country.

His deputy, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, took over his position in his absence.

On Saturday, Obasa faulted the process that led to his removal as speaker, arguing that the lawmakers did not adhere to “constitutional processes”.

However, the assembly responded and affirmed its decision to remove him, adding that any “attempt to heat up the polity will be resisted by the majority members of the House”.

In a latest development, sources said Ogunkelu, who represents Epe 2 and his counterpart, Afinni who represents Lagos Island Constituency 2, are under investigation over allegations that they destroyed government properties in the Assembly chambers during Obasa’s removal.

Based on the allegation of vandalising public property levelled against them, the two lawmakers reportedly honoured invitations by the police.

Sources said both were subjected to interrogation on Wednesday by investigative officers.

“On the day of Obasa’s removal, the then Clerk of the House, Barrister Lekan Onafeko was not in the House and his office was locked,” one of the sources added.

“Hon. Ogunkelu, aka Sketel and Hon. Afinni physically led the charge to fetch the mace for the House sitting and had to destroy the door and some government properties to get hold of the symbol of authority.

“It is on these grounds that the police invited them. As we speak, Sketel is in detention while Afinni was released due to his health challenges,” another source said.

The police is yet to react to the development as of press time