DESPITE TINUBU'S INTERVENTION, OBASA CONTINUES LEGAL ACTION AGAINST MERANDA, LAWMAKER

Read Time:3 Minute, 9 Second

Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), counsel for Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, again dismissed claims on Sunday that his client would withdraw the lawsuit against former Speaker Mojisola Meranda and other Assembly members.

Fashanu emphasized that his legal team was awaiting the court’s decision and remained committed to the case.

This stance persists despite President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in resolving the Assembly’s leadership crisis, with sources suggesting that part of the settlement included Obasa dropping the suit.

On March 17, 2025, Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court, where the case is being heard, reserved judgment on Obasa’s challenge to the legality of the January 13, 2025, proceedings that led to his removal. The judge reviewed multiple preliminary objections from defense counsel and stated that the ruling date would be communicated in due course.

“We are just waiting for the judgment. We don’t know when yet, the court said they will communicate it to us,” Fashanu said on Sunday.

When asked if Obasa was still considering withdrawing the suit, he said, “We have concluded. You’re twisting the hand of the clock back. We have concluded arguments; that one does not arise again. He’s not withdrawing, we have concluded.”

Otunba Henry Ajomale, a former APC chairman in Lagos and member of the Governance Advisory Council, expressed confidence on Saturday that Obasa would soon withdraw his lawsuit following Tinubu’s intervention.

Speaking to journalists during an award event for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Lagos, Ajomale made this remark, according to an online report.

“Very soon, (at) the next sitting, you will see the difference,” he said.

“Somebody is aggrieved and he went to court. It is his right to go to court. And it is now our own duty since Mr. President intervened and rightly too because this is his own making.

“He will not allow it to create a bitter problem. And that is why he has to intervene. And everything is back to normal now.

“Now that he (Obasa) has been returned, I believe that the case will be withdrawn from court. In no time. Perhaps at the next sitting, you will see the difference,” Otunba Ajomale said.

Obasa adjourned the plenary indefinitely on March 3, 2025 when he was reelected as Speaker following the resignation of Meranda from the position.

Meranda’s 49-day tenure as the first female Speaker of the Lagos Assembly was marked by a leadership crisis, as Obasa, who was removed on January 13, fought to reclaim his position.

The APC’s national leadership eventually intervened, persuading lawmakers to reinstate Obasa. On March 12, 2025, all 40 House members met with President Tinubu in Abuja, where he further mediated the dispute, particularly between Obasa and Meranda.

Since March 3, the Assembly has not held a session, effectively stalling its legislative activities. When asked last Tuesday about the reconvening date, Clerk Ottun Babatunde indicated that sittings would likely resume after the Sallah break.

He said, “We adjourned sine die (indefinitely), but (we will) likely (resume) after Sallah by God’s grace.”

When quizzed further on what would be the focus of the House upon resumption, the clerk simply said, “We will resume our work. Our normal duty is what we are (going to be) doing.”

He maintained that the House committees were still carrying out their activities despite the recess. “In fact, the committee activities are ongoing. It was only plenary that we suspended, and we went on recess,” Ottun added.

At the time, a source close to Obasa disclosed that the Speaker was out of the state, having traveled to Mecca for the holy pilgrimage.