The Lagos State House of Assembly has clarified the circumstances surrounding the presence of operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) at its complex in the early hours of Monday, February 17, 2025.

Reacting to public concerns and outrage over the incident, the Acting Clerk of the Assembly, A. Ottun, stated, “The Assembly called upon security agencies to ensure security, help maintain order, and not to seal off offices.”

According to a letter dated February 14, 2025, and signed by the Acting Clerk, the Assembly management had alerted security agencies in Lagos about “credible intelligence that indicated plans to forcibly reinstate the impeached Speaker on February 18, 2025.”

The Assembly management noted that such an attempt posed “a potential security threat to the Assembly and its members.”

The letter, with reference number LSHA/FAD/0/7554/323, was addressed to the DSS Director in Lagos and the heads of other security agencies in the state.

Titled “Urgent: Enhanced Security Measures for LSHA Premises,” the letter underscored the necessity of preventing any security breaches at the Assembly.

“The impeached Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly plans to resume office on February 18, 2025, as the Speaker, posing a potential security threat to the Assembly and its members.

“We kindly request that you take necessary measures to fortify the security of the Assembly premises with effect from Sunday, February 16, 2025, by increasing the presence of your personnel and implementing strict access control within and outside the Assembly premises until further notice.”

This clarification comes amid speculation that the DSS was deployed to seal off offices within the Assembly complex. The leadership insists that the request for security personnel was strictly for protection and the maintenance of order, rather than to hinder legislative activities.