Nigerians react to Lagos Assembly Speaker, Obasa, N53m fund to travel with mistress
Nigerians have reacted to an exclusive report by the Sahara reporters which revealed the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, who received N53m from the state coffers to travel with his mistress to the United States of America.
According to the report published om May 14, 2020, Obasa got the House to approve the fund to facilitate a trip to Georgia, United States, for the 2019 US-Nigeria Trade and Investment Global Summit, which he was billed to attend with some members of the Assembly and their staff.
The event was subsequently postponed but rather than return the fund to the state’s treasury, Obasa diverted the funds for personal use as he travelled to the United States with his mistress.
In a document sighted by SaharaReporters dated October 15, 2019, Obasa had requested the Assembly to release the funds so he could attend the summit along with one of his staff.
The document reads partly, “Given the above, kindly seek approval of the Rt. Hon. Speaker for release of the sum of N53,719,405 only to enable them to attend the programme.
“Hon. Speaker, please read from page 39 of file. You are respectfully invited to consider and approve the release of N53,719,405 to facilitate the attendance of the Hon. Speaker, Hon. members and one member of staff at the Y2019 US – Nigeria Trade and Investment Global Summit scheduled to take place in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, from 26th – 28th September 2019.”
Sahara reporters gathered that though the meeting was rescheduled, Obasa travelled to the US with his mistress in place of his legislative staff.
An official of the Lagos Assembly, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said the Speaker was always in the habit of travelling with his mistress in place of his staff whenever he was leaving the country for official purpose.
“The Speaker and his mistress, who doubles as his protocol and external relations officer in the Assembly, only went to the US after collecting N53m for the US-Nigeria Trade and Investment Global Summit.
Reacting on Twitter, many have said that the report could be another biased and fake news while others agree with the reports. Find tweets below;
Trending the #SaharaReportersLied is a clear indication that most Nigerian Youths are gullible, lacks the sense of objectivity in passing judgement on issues that bothers on our future as a Nation.
— Richardz (@iam_richardz) May 16, 2020
Conclusively, Most Nigerian Youths are driven by Sentiments and not by Sense.
If #SaharaReportersLied
— andrews (@Georgea81296269) May 16, 2020
And Obasa crew want me to believe show me proof.
Are we ok in this country?
The fact that you try using giveaway to pass your message.
Common Sense tells me there is an atom of truth to this Sahara claims.
We didn't forget this ????? pic.twitter.com/q4uCqUWnl0
You guys are shouting #SaharaReportersLied, how on earth will you pay over 3m for social media coverage for inauguration of the 9th assembly, is this not wickedness… At this level if abacha resurrect and campaign for any political post you guys will still vote for him??. pic.twitter.com/LmIi6S6XpB
— ❤ (@aa_bunmi) May 16, 2020
#SaharaReportersLied really?But your Obasa has been under investigation by the EFCC since 2018…
— Portharcourt 2nd Son (@Polymat43955419) May 16, 2020
Sahara Reporters didn't lie…it just opened the can of worms in Obasa's House of Perfidy pic.twitter.com/35u4zsTqEz
