The former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has filed a suit against the Assembly and the new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, contending the legality of his impeachment.
Obasa, in the suit which is yet to be assigned to a judge, is encouraging the court to pronounce the fact the that his colleagues in the House acted illegally by impeaching him while the Assembly was on recess.
In the application dated February 12, 2025, and filed by his lawyer, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), the plaintiff guaranteed that he was ejected from his position on January 13, 2025, by 36 lawmakers while he was out of the country.
The beset lawmaker is seeking the following reliefs: an order of the court fixing a date for the 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 post-hearing.
He likewise requested the court to order that the time for the plaintiff to file their replies on points of law be limited to three days.
Obasa’s application depends on nine grounds, zeroing in 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 contends 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 someone else to do so.
Public interest requires that this case be heard and settled quickly to avoid disruption of legislative activities in the state.”
Obasa maintained that the court must urgently decide the legality behind the Assembly’s current leadership because it violates the applicable laws and rules.
He further asserts that the court holds innate powers to concede expedited hearings and time limitations.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the matter.
Obasa was impeached on January 13 while he was away from the country by more than two-thirds of the 40-member legislative house over alleged misconduct and various offences.
His Deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was immediately elected the new speaker, becoming the first female to assume responsibility for the legislative body in the South-West state.
Obasa got back to a welcome rally at his residence in GRA, Ikeja on January 25, keeping up with the fact that he was not afraid of being impeached but underscored that due process was not followed.
The former speaker asserted that his removal was orchestrated while he was away, and accused the state commissioner of police of aiding the process.
He claimed 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. Obasa likewise debunked allegations of misappropriation.
