In a dramatic legal battle that could reshape Lagos State’s legislative structure, the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has dragged the Assembly and its new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, to court. Obasa, who was controversially impeached while out of the country, is now seeking judicial intervention to overturn what he describes as an “unlawful” removal from office.
The legal suit, which was filed before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, has not yet been assigned to a judge. However, in his application dated February 12, 2025, and submitted by his legal counsel, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), Obasa is challenging the legality of his impeachment. He argues that the House of Assembly acted unconstitutionally by conducting proceedings and removing him while the House was officially on recess.
According to Obasa, his impeachment on January 13, 2025, was orchestrated by 36 lawmakers in his absence, violating the standing rules and constitutional provisions governing legislative procedures. He is requesting an expedited hearing, urging the court to reduce the time allowed for the defendants—the Lagos State House of Assembly and Speaker Meranda—to file their responses to just seven days after the hearing. Additionally, he wants the court to shorten the time for his legal team to respond to counter-arguments to three days, emphasizing the need for an urgent resolution to avoid legislative instability in the state.
The lawsuit is built on nine legal grounds, including the interpretation of sections of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Lagos State House of Assembly’s Rules and Standing Orders. Central to Obasa’s argument is whether the House had the legal authority to hold proceedings and impeach a Speaker without a formal sitting convened by the Speaker or an authorized representative. He asserts that his removal was politically motivated and conducted in a manner that undermines democratic principles.
Obasa further argues that the Lagos State House of Assembly lacks the constitutional authority to hold legislative sessions during recess without formal recall procedures. He contends that the court must urgently intervene to clarify the legality of the House’s current leadership and prevent further disruptions to legislative activities. The former Speaker insists that the judiciary has an inherent duty to protect the integrity of governance by ensuring that leadership changes in the legislature are carried out in accordance with due process.
Despite being impeached, Obasa remains a formidable political force. Following his removal, he returned to Lagos on January 25, 2025, to a large gathering of supporters who welcomed him at his residence in GRA, Ikeja. Speaking to the crowd, Obasa stated that he was never afraid of impeachment but maintained that due process was blatantly disregarded. He alleged that his removal was pre-planned while he was away and accused the Lagos State Commissioner of Police of playing a key role in the process.
According to Obasa, security agents led by the police commissioner stormed the Lagos Assembly complex and his residences in Agege and Ikeja on the day of his impeachment. He claimed that over 200 security officers locked down his family members inside his home while the Assembly moved to install Meranda as his replacement. The former Speaker has also denied allegations of financial misconduct, which some lawmakers cited as justification for his removal.
Meranda, who was Obasa’s deputy before his impeachment, was immediately sworn in as the new Speaker, making history as the first female to lead the Lagos State House of Assembly. Her emergence has been met with mixed reactions, with some lawmakers and political observers viewing it as a progressive step for gender representation in leadership, while others see it as part of a broader political power struggle within the Lagos political landscape.
As the court case unfolds, political analysts predict that the outcome will have far-reaching implications not only for Lagos but also for the future of legislative governance in Nigeria. If the court rules in favor of Obasa, it could set a precedent that strengthens procedural guidelines for impeaching legislative leaders. However, if the court upholds his removal, it will affirm the Assembly’s authority to make leadership decisions without necessarily adhering to traditional recall protocols.
For now, Lagos State remains at a political crossroads, with the judiciary poised to decide whether Obasa’s impeachment stands or whether the House of Assembly overstepped its constitutional authority. As legal proceedings advance, stakeholders, lawmakers, and the public will be watching closely to see how this high-stakes battle for legislative control unfolds.
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