In the early hours of Monday, operatives from the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force raided the Lagos State House of Assembly, sealing the offices of Speaker Mojisola Meranda, her deputy, and the Clerk of the House.
By 10 a.m., armed security personnel had taken control of the Alausa, Ikeja area, conducting searches of all passersby. Meranda arrived with her convoy at around 11:15 a.m.
Meanwhile, former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who was removed from his position on January 13, 2025, in his absence, has filed a lawsuit against the state lawmakers, challenging his removal.
Obasa, who was in the U.S. at the time, claims his removal was a “coup,” as described by President Bola Tinubu.
He has filed a motion at the Ikeja Division of the State High Court, requesting an expedited hearing of his case.
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Obasa was dismissed by 32 of the 40 Assembly members, which has sparked controversy, with the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) within the Lagos APC divided over the matter.
In his suit, Obasa is contesting the legality of his removal and seeks various legal remedies, including an expedited hearing, with the Lagos State House of Assembly and Speaker Mojisola Meranda named as defendants.
The motion was filed on February 12, 2025, by his legal team led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN.
“An order of this Honourable Court abridging the time within which the Defendants may file their response by way of counter affidavits/written addresses as specified by the Rules of this Honourable Court, to 7 days after the hearing and determination of this Application.
“An order of this Honourable Court abridging the time within which the Plaintiff/Applicant may file its Reply of points law, as specified in the Rules of this Honourable Court, to 3 days of the service of the Defendants processes on him.”
Obasa’s application is based on nine grounds, which involve the interpretation of several sections of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Rules and Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The suit read in part: “This application is predicated among which he stated the suit concerns the interpretation of Sections 36; 90; 92(2)(c); 101 and 311 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended) vis-à-vis ORDER V RULE 18(2) and Order II Rule 9(1)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) OF RULES AND STANDING ORDER OF LAGOS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY (which enjoy constitutional flavor and status);
“The action borders on the constitutionality or otherwise of the sitting and proceedings of the Lagos State House of Assembly of the 13th January, 2025 where the Plaintiff herein, as Honourable Speaker was said to be impeached.
“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 is 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;
“The nature of this action is such that is required to be heard and determined expeditiously having regard to the exceptional circumstances surrounding same;
“There is need to abridge the time within which the Defendants may file their response to the originating summon as well as time within which the claimant/Applicant may file its reply on point of law; and
“This Honourable Court is imbued with inherent powers to grant accelerated hearing and abridgment of time; and
“It is expedient to grant accelerated hearing of this action and abridgment of time for parties to file the relevant processes in the interest of justice.”
Obasa argued that granting his application would not cause any harm or injustice to any of the parties involved in the case.
