The embattled Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has approach a High court in Ikeja to challenge the Assembly and the new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, for what he described as his unconstitutional removal from office. The suit, though yet to be assigned to a judge, is seeking the court to declare that what his colleagues did in the hallowed chamber in removing him while the Assembly was on recess was unlawful.
The application dated 12 February 2025 and filed by his lawyer, Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, the plaintiff claimed that he was removed from his position on 13 January 2025 by 36 lawmakers in his absential was an aberration to the law.
Consequently, he is demanding the court to give him the following; an order of the court to fix a date for an accelerated hearing of the case and to shorten the time allowed for the defendants to respond with counter-affidavits or written addresses to seven days after the hearing.
Obasa also asked the court to limit the time for the plaintiff to file replies on points of law to three days.
Obasa spelled out nine grounds as bases for his complaint; focusing on the interpretation of various sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and the Rules and Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The plaintiff challenges the constitutionality of the Lagos State House of Assembly’s sitting and proceedings during recess without the Speaker convening the House or delegating authority to another person.
“Public interest necessitates that this case be heard and resolved quickly to avoid disruption of legislative activities in the state,” Obasa argued.
He insisted that the court as a matter of urgency must determine the legality of the Assembly’s current leadership, as it violates applicable laws and rules.
He also reminded the court that it holds inherent powers to grant expedited hearings and impose time limitations.
As at the time of filling this report, no date has been fixed for the hearing.
Recall, Obasa was impeached on 13 January while he was out of the country by more than two-thirds of the 40-member legislative house over alleged misconduct and other offences.
He was replaced with His deputy, Mojisola Meranda, who was immediately enthroned as the new Speaker, making history as the first female to lead the legislative body in the South-West state.
Upon returning to Lagos to a welcome rally at his residence located at no 25, Ikeja GRA, on 25 Obasa January, he disclosed that though he was not afraid of being impeached but insisted that due process must be followed.
He maintained that his removal was orchestrated while he was away and accused the Lagos State Commissioner of Police for facilitating the process.
According to him, the security agents, led by the police commissioner, invaded the Assembly complex and his homes in Agege and Ikeja, locking his family indoors with over 200 officers present.
Meanwhile, Obasa slammed the allegations of misappropriation.
