NPF Restores Security Aides to Lagos Speaker Mojisola Meranda Amid Withdrawal Controversy

In a surprising turn of events, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Lagos State Command has reinstated the security details assigned to Hon. Mojisola Meranda, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. The restoration, announced on Thursday evening, came just hours after the security escorts attached to her office and residence were abruptly withdrawn earlier that same day. The swift reversal has sparked debates and speculation across the state, shedding light on an ongoing police audit and political tensions within the assembly.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, addressed the media during a press briefing on Thursday, clarifying the reinstatement of four security personnel to the Speaker’s detail. According to Jimoh, the initial withdrawal of Meranda’s security aides was part of a broader audit of police personnel and firearms, a routine exercise aimed at ensuring accountability and efficiency.

He emphasized that this audit is not exclusive to Lagos but is being conducted simultaneously across various state police commands nationwide. “The withdrawal of security details attached to the Speaker and other Very Important Personalities (VIPs) in the state is in line with an ongoing process,” Jimoh explained, seeking to dispel rumors of targeted action.

The sudden removal of Meranda’s security team earlier on Thursday had fueled widespread speculation, particularly in light of recent political upheaval within the Lagos State House of Assembly. The withdrawal coincided with the reinstatement of security escorts for Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, the recently impeached former Speaker.

Obasa, whose security details were restored shortly after his ousting, wasted no time in reasserting his influence. Reports indicate that he stormed the assembly complex, declared himself Speaker, and even presided over a plenary session attended by a handful of assembly members. This bold move intensified the political drama, leaving many to question the motives behind the police’s actions.

The events of Thursday have left Lagosians and political observers buzzing, with many interpreting the back-and-forth as a reflection of deeper tensions within the state’s legislative body.

The audit, while presented as a routine exercise, has inadvertently exposed fault lines in the assembly’s leadership, raising questions about the stability of Meranda’s tenure as Speaker and Obasa’s lingering influence. As the dust settles, all eyes remain on the Lagos State House of Assembly to see how this saga will unfold in the days ahead.