Former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has filed a suit against the Assembly and the new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, challenging the legality of his removal from office.
In the suit, which is awaiting assignment to a judge, Obasa contends that his dismissal by 36 lawmakers on January 13, 2025, was unlawful, as it occurred while the Assembly was on recess and while he was out of the country.
The application, dated February 12, 2025, and filed by his lawyer, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), seeks a court order for an expedited hearing, requesting that the defendants’ response time be limited to seven days and that the plaintiff be allowed only three days to file replies to any points of law.
Obasa’s case is based on nine grounds, primarily focusing on the interpretation of various sections of the Nigerian Constitution and the Rules and Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly. He argues that the Assembly’s actions violated legal procedures, as it convened without the Speaker’s authorization during recess, or a delegate in his stead.
In his application, Obasa stresses the urgency of the case, highlighting the public interest in resolving the matter swiftly to avoid disruptions in legislative activities. He believes the court has the authority to grant an expedited process due to the significance of the issue.
The case also challenges the constitutionality of the current leadership of the Assembly, with Obasa asserting that it undermines applicable laws and rules. No hearing date has been set yet.
Obasa was impeached on January 13 by a majority of the 40-member House, following allegations of misconduct. His Deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was immediately appointed as the new Speaker, making her the first female to lead the legislative body in Lagos State.
Obasa, who returned to a rally at his residence in Ikeja on January 25, has consistently claimed that his impeachment process was flawed and conducted unlawfully while he was abroad. He accused the Lagos State Police Commissioner of complicity in the process, alleging that security agents, led by the Commissioner, forcibly entered the Assembly complex and his homes in Agege and Ikeja, preventing his family from leaving, with over 200 officers present. Obasa has denied the allegations of misappropriation that led to his impeachment.
