Meranda Laments Security Detail Cut From 12 To Four Officers

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, confirmed on Friday that her security detail had been restored.

THE WHISTLER reported on Thursday evening that the Lagos State Police Command has restored the security detail of Meranda.

According to the State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, this follows a comprehensive police personnel audit aimed at ensuring proper deployment of officers across the state.

However, instead of the 18 security operatives that previously accompanied her convoy, she now has only three or four policemen.

Meranda, flanked by her colleagues, made this revelation while addressing journalists at the Lagos State High Court.

Her security aides were withdrawn on Thursday, a move that Victor Ganzallo, the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Information, attributed to the ongoing leadership tussle within the Assembly.

The lawmakers were in court for a hearing on a case filed by the ousted Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who is challenging his removal from office.

Obasa was removed on January 13 by at least 36 members of the House over allegations of misconduct.

However, on Thursday, the ousted Speaker made a dramatic return to the Assembly, re-entering the chamber with police escorts and other security personnel. He then declared that he remains the legitimate leader of the House.
“I have three or four policemen, whereas my normal convoy, my team (used to be) 12 policemen, four DSS (operatives) and two anti-bomb. But (as of) this morning, I don’t have that,” Meranda lamented.

When asked whether the House would take disciplinary action against Obasa, she responded, “When we get to that bridge, we will cross it.”

Reacting to Obasa presiding over a sitting with only a handful of lawmakers, Meranda described it as a “show of shame.”

“That was just a show of shame because, in our job, we have numbers that form quorum. So if you are sitting with three or four members, you are only doing theater,” she stated.