Mudashiru Obasa, the embattled former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has taken legal action to challenge his removal from office. Obasa filed a lawsuit against the Lagos State House of Assembly and the new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, at the State High Court in Ikeja. He claims that his removal was unconstitutional because it took place while the Assembly was on recess.
Obasa, who was out of the country at the time of his removal on January 13, 2025, was ousted by 36 lawmakers. Upon his return, he declared that he remains the legitimate Speaker and has now sought the court’s intervention to reverse the decision. In a motion dated February 12, 2025, Obasa, represented by his legal team led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, requested an accelerated hearing for the case.
The motion seeks several reliefs, including an order for the court to set a date for an expedited hearing of the originating summons. It also requests that the time for the defendants to file their responses be reduced to seven days after the hearing and determination of the application. Additionally, Obasa asked the court to shorten the time for him to file a reply on points of law to three days.
The application is based on nine grounds, including the interpretation of various sections of the Nigerian Constitution and the Rules and Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Obasa argues that the Assembly’s decision to sit and remove him during recess was unconstitutional. He noted that the Speaker did not reconvene the House or authorize anyone else to do so, which he claims violates the law.
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 legal team argues that the case is of significant public interest and should be resolved quickly to avoid further disruption to legislative activities in Lagos State. They also contend that the continued operation of the Assembly under its current leadership is illegal and requires urgent judicial intervention.
