Mudashiru Obasa, the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has sued the Assembly and its new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, in the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, contesting the legitimacy of his dismissal.
The lawsuit, which has not yet been assigned to a judge, asks the court to rule that his House colleagues removed him illegally while the Assembly was in recess.
The plaintiff asserted in the application dated February 12, 2025, submitted by his attorney, Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, that 36 lawmakers had dismissed him from his post on January 13, 2025, while he was abroad.
The impeached speaker is asking the court to set a date for an expedited hearing of the case and to reduce the time frame for the defendants to reply with written addresses or counter-affidavits to seven days following the hearing.
Obasa also requested that the court set a three-day limit on the plaintiff’s ability to submit legal points of reply.
His case is supported by nine grounds, all of which center on how the Lagos State House of Assembly’s Rules and Standing Orders and key provisions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1999 (as amended) Constitution should be interpreted.
The lawsuit questions whether the Lagos State House of Assembly’s meeting and activities during recess were constitutional 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 because the current leadership of the Assembly is in violation of applicable laws and regulations, the court must decide immediately whether it is legal.
He added that the court has the inherent authority to set deadlines and allow for accelerated hearings.
There is no set date for the hearing.
More than two-thirds of the 40-member legislative house impeached Obasa on January 13 while he was abroad for alleged misconduct and other offenses.
Mojisola Meranda, his deputy, was elected as the new Speaker right away, becoming the first woman to serve as the head of the South-West state’s legislature.
On January 25, Obasa returned to a welcome gathering at his GRA, Ikeja, home, claiming he had no fear of being impeached but insisted that due process had not been followed.
The former Speaker claimed that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police helped enable his removal, which was planned while he was away.
He said that with more than 200 policemen present, security personnel under the command of the police commissioner broke into the Assembly complex and his residences in Agege and Ikeja, trapping his family inside.
Obasa denied claims of misappropriation as well.
Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it.
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post.
Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime…
Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime…
Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime…
Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime…
Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime…
Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime…