Two Lagos Assembly Members Grilled By Police Over Speakership Crisis, One Held In Custody
While Ogunkelu was detained by the police, the other lawmaker, Afinni was granted administrative bail over health challenges on Wednesday.
Two Lagos House of Assembly members, Lanre Afinni and Sylvester Ogunkelu, are facing police interrogation in connection with the crisis rocking the State House of Assembly, multiple sources told SaharaReporters on Thursday.
While Ogunkelu was detained by the police, the other lawmaker, Afinni was granted administrative bail over health challenges on Wednesday.
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.
Last 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”.
Sources privy to the latest matter, 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.
When contacted by SaharaReporters, Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos police command spokesperson, stated that he “couldn’t answer the call at the moment.” However, as of the time of this report, he had not replied to a text message sent to his line.
