Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa impeached on Monday for spending of N43.5 billion of state funds on luxury back-up vehicles, should brace himself for a turbulent ride with anti-graft agents waiting to seize and grill him immediately he arrives in Nigeria from the United States of America, Peoples Gazette has learnt.

Sources at the EFCC told The Gazette that Mr Obasa —who in 2020 was investigated for spending N1.1 billion within one week but was let off the hook— would not be so lucky this time. The Gazette was told that agents have already compiled their records and built a compelling corruption that Mr Obasa might not be able to wriggle his way out of the allegations and may not be sleeping in his bedroom anytime soon.

“Heavy hammer is waiting to fall on him,” an EFCC source told The Gazette on condition of anonymity because they lacked the authority to comment publicly on an ongoing investigation.

The Gazette’s exclusive story exposing Mr Obasa’s shady dealings and lavish spending rattled the state legislators that they immediately impeached him on Monday and swiftly replaced him with Mojisola Meranda endorsed by the Governor’s Advisory Council.

To further compound his case, Mr Obasa has lost whatever shred of good standing he has with President Bola Tinubu. Sources close to the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, said he ignored Mr Obasa’s calls multiple times, indicating a deliberate effort to fence him off and deprive him of any access to the President.

Left to bear his cross alone, it was unclear whether Mr Obasa would be returning from the U.S. to resume as a floor member given how he has been stripped of the protection and political backing he was used to.

EFCC Sources told The Gazette that Mr Obasa was guaranteed of cooling off behind bars due to the volume and strength of their case. He will have to prove his innocence to the trained detectives handling his case.

“It’s already compiled and we no longer need to move. Nothing will be disrupted in arresting him,” the source said on Thursday. “We have no political interference at all. He will clarify things to our detectives.”

A spokesperson for Mr Obasa didn’t grant a request for comment about when the former speaker planned to return to Nigeria or discuss any potential encounters with anti-graft agents upon arrival.

A spokesman for the EFCC sidestepped questions about the agency’s arrangement ahead of Mr Obasa’s return to the country..

Mr Gbajabiamila declined comments about his interactions with Mr Obasa since Monday’s impeachment.

An anti-corruption group, HEDA, praised The Gazette and Sahara Reporters for investigative reports uncovering the massive loot of Lagos coffers, which laid the groundwork and built the case for Mr Obasa’s ouster.