Lagos Speaker Crisis: Obasa Fights Back in Court

Lagos State lawmaker Mudashiru Obasa has taken legal action to challenge his removal as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Obasa has filed a suit against the Assembly and its newly elected Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, at a State High Court in Ikeja, arguing that his removal during a legislative recess was unlawful.

In a motion dated February 12, 2025, Obasa, represented by his counsel Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, is seeking an accelerated hearing of the case. He was removed from his position on January 13, 2025, by 36 lawmakers while he was out of the country. Upon his return, he contested the decision, maintaining that he remains the legitimate Speaker of the Assembly.

The lawmaker is requesting the court to set an expedited hearing date for the originating summons and to limit the time frame for the defendants to file their responses to seven days after the hearing. Additionally, he seeks an order reducing the period within which he may file a reply on points of law to three days.

Obasa’s legal challenge is based on nine grounds, including the interpretation of various sections of the Nigerian Constitution and the Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly. His motion contends that the Assembly’s decision to convene and remove him during a recess, without his authorization or delegation of such power, was unconstitutional.

“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 do so,” part of the motion reads.

Obasa argues that public interest demands a swift resolution to prevent legislative paralysis in the state. He asserts that the legality of the Assembly’s current leadership requires urgent judicial determination.

As of the time of this report, the court has not yet set a date for the hearing of the case.