The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has adjourned the hearing of a lawsuit filed by the reinstated Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, to March 17, 2025. The case, which challenges Obasa’s removal as Speaker earlier this year, involves several lawmakers, including former Speaker Mojisola Meranda.
Obasa was removed from office on January 13, 2025, after 35 lawmakers accused him of fraud, abuse of power, and misconduct. However, following a political intervention by the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Obasa was reinstated while Meranda stepped down and resumed her role as Deputy Speaker.
At Monday’s court session, the hearing, initially scheduled for March 10, was postponed after legal representatives for both parties requested more time to respond to new affidavits. Obasa’s legal team, led by Afolabi Fasanu (SAN), had served additional documents to the respondents on the same day.
Counsel for the House of Assembly, Femi Falana (SAN), informed the court about the new affidavits and stated that his clients needed time to respond. “The claimant’s counsel served us further affidavits today, challenging my clients to respond,” Falana said.
Similarly, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), representing Meranda, noted that the fresh affidavits contained serious allegations. “There are serious fraud allegations in the further affidavits my learned brother referred to. We shall be asking for an adjournment to respond to the new application,” he stated.
Another lawyer, Olusola Idowu (SAN), also announced his involvement as a new legal representative for the House of Assembly. In response, Falana requested that the court first address the application for a change of counsel before moving on to other matters. He cited a Court of Appeal decision that requires trial courts to settle issues related to legal representation before considering other applications.
Justice Yetunde Pinheiro ruled that all pending applications, including those related to injunctions and jurisdictional challenges, would be heard together on March 17. “All applications, including those seeking injunctions and those challenging jurisdiction, will be heard on March 17, 2025. The application concerning the change of counsel will also be addressed on the same day,” the judge stated.
She further directed all parties to submit and exchange their legal documents before the next hearing date.
Despite his reinstatement, Obasa has chosen to proceed with the lawsuit, indicating that tensions still exist within the Assembly. His decision to continue with the legal action suggests that unresolved conflicts remain between him and the lawmakers who initially removed him.
