The crisis within the Lagos State House of Assembly has taken another turn as reinstated Speaker Mudashiru Obasa changed the legal counsel representing the Assembly in court. This unexpected decision has fueled tensions among the 35 lawmakers who had previously voted to remove him from office.
The case, which is being heard at the Ikeja High Court, revolves around Obasa’s impeachment on January 13, 2025. He was removed over allegations of fraud, abuse of office, and gross misconduct. However, his return to power following the resignation of his replacement, Mojisola Meranda, on March 3, has left the Assembly in turmoil.
At the court hearing on Monday, Justice Yetunde Pinheiro reviewed new applications submitted by the parties involved and adjourned the proceedings to March 17. The latest legal filings were submitted in response to arguments made in court last Friday.
Obasa’s lead counsel, Afolabi Fasanu (SAN), spoke to journalists outside the courtroom, stating that his team had provided evidence addressing one of the key issues in the case—whether Obasa was in Nigeria at the time of his impeachment.
“We have provided evidence,” Fasanu stated.
However, the decision to replace the Assembly’s legal team without consulting the majority of lawmakers has caused further uproar. The 35 lawmakers opposing Obasa are being represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana (SAN), who strongly criticized the move.
“It is not in the law that a plaintiff can impose a lawyer on the defendants,” Falana argued. “The 35 lawmakers have chosen our team to represent them, and we are carrying out their instructions.”
