Mace of the Ogun State House of Assembly has been reported missing. The mace, which is the symbol of authority of the legislative arm upon which it derives its legitimacy, is rumoured to have been “stolen” to prevent the House from sitting.
Sources said that over 16 members of the House have signed up to remove the embattled Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo. Oluomo was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) last week on allegations of corruption.
He has been arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
The Speaker allegedly unilaterally jacked up a 70 Billion Naira loan approved by the House to 100 Billion. The governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, whose administration is the beneficiary of the alleged unconstitutional and criminal act has reportedly been doing everything to protect the embattled Speaker.
Sources say the governor had tried to plead with members of the House not to remove the Speaker. The members, the majority of whom were denied second term tickets by the governor, have reportedly vowed to teach the governor a political lesson. Accusing fingers have been pointed in the direction of the governor for the missing Mace.
Oluomo has also been charged with stealing 2.4 Billion Naira from the covers of the Assembly. He has however been granted bail but remanded in EFCC custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions.