OBASA CHALLENGES REMOVAL, DRAGS LAGOS ASSEMBLY, MERANDA TO COURT

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Ousted Lagos lawmaker, Mudashiru Obasa, has taken legal action to contest his removal as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Obasa has sued the Assembly and the newly appointed Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, at a State High Court in Ikeja, arguing that his removal during the Assembly’s recess was unlawful.

In a motion dated February 12, 2025, his legal team, led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, requested an expedited hearing of the case.

Obasa, who was out of the country at the time, was removed from office on January 13, 2025, by 36 lawmakers.

Upon his return to the country, Obasa contested his removal, insisting that he remained the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

He is seeking a court order for an expedited hearing of the originating summons and a directive limiting the defendants’ response time—via counter-affidavits or written addresses—to seven days after the hearing and determination of the application.

In the motion filed on Friday, Obasa also requested that the court shorten the timeframe for him to file his reply on points of law to three days.

The ousted lawmaker’s application is predicated on nine grounds, among which is 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 the Lagos State House of Assembly.

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.”

However, a date has not been fixed for the suit as of the time of filing this report.