The former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has filed a lawsuit 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 has yet to be assigned to a judge, Obasa is asking the court to declare that his removal was unlawful, as it occurred while the Assembly was on recess.
The application, dated February 12, 2025, and filed by his lawyer, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), claims that Obasa was removed by 36 lawmakers on January 13, 2025, while he was out of the country.
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Obasa is seeking several reliefs, including an order for an accelerated hearing of the case and a reduction in the time allowed for the defendants to file responses to seven days after the hearing.
He also requested the court to limit the time for him to file replies on points of law to three days.
The application is based on nine grounds, focusing on the interpretation of various sections of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and the Rules and Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Obasa challenges the constitutionality of the Assembly’s sitting and proceedings during recess without the Speaker’s authorization or delegation of authority to another individual.
He argues that the case needs to be resolved quickly to prevent disruption of legislative activities in the state and insists that the court must urgently address the legality of the current leadership in the Assembly, as it violates the relevant laws and rules.
Obasa also contends that the court has the authority to grant expedited hearings and time limitations.
No date has been set for the hearing yet. Obasa was impeached on January 13 while abroad, with more than two-thirds of the 40-member House voting against him over alleged misconduct and other offenses.
His deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was immediately elected as the new Speaker, making her the first female to hold the position in the South-West state.
Obasa returned to a rally at his residence in GRA, Ikeja, on January 25, where he stated that he was not afraid of impeachment but insisted that proper procedures were not followed.
He claimed his removal was planned while he was away and accused the state commissioner of police of aiding the process.
Obasa alleged that security agents, led by the police commissioner, invaded the Assembly complex and his homes in Agege and Ikeja, locking his family inside with over 200 officers present.
He also denied allegations of misappropriation.
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