Obasa Takes Lagos Assembly, New Speaker to Court Over Removal

Mudashiru Obasa, the embattled former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has filed a lawsuit challenging his removal from office. Obasa dragged the Assembly and the new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, before a State High Court in Ikeja, arguing that his removal was unconstitutional as it occurred while the Assembly was on recess.

In a motion dated February 12, 2025, Obasa, represented by his counsel, Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, requested an order for an accelerated hearing of the suit. The former Speaker, who was out of the country at the time of his removal on January 13, 2025, insists that he remains the legitimate Speaker of the House.

The motion seeks several reliefs, including an order for the court to fix a date for the speedy hearing of the originating summons and to shorten the time for the defendants to file their responses to seven days. Obasa also requested that the time for filing his reply to points of law be reduced to three days.

The application is based on nine grounds, including the interpretation of sections 36, 90, 92(2)(c), 101, and 311 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), as well as provisions of the Rules and Standing Order of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Part of the motion reads, “This action challenges the constitutionality of the sitting and proceedings of the Lagos State House of Assembly to sit during recess without the Speaker reconvening the House or giving any other person powers to reconvene the House. Public interest requires the case to be heard and determined speedily and expeditiously so that legislative activities in the state are not stalled. The legality of the continued sitting of the 1st defendant under the present leadership in violation of the aforementioned laws and rules calls for an urgent determination. This Honourable Court is imbued with inherent powers to grant accelerated hearing and abridgment of time.”

Obasa’s removal was carried out by 36 lawmakers during the Assembly’s recess, a move he claims was illegal. Upon his return to Nigeria, he declared that he remains the Speaker and vowed to challenge the decision in court.

As of the time of filing this report, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit. The case has sparked significant interest, as it raises critical questions about the legality of legislative proceedings during recess and the powers of the Speaker to reconvene the House.

The outcome of the lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for the Lagos State House of Assembly and its operations, as well as set a precedent for similar cases in the future.