Obasa drags Lagos Assembly, Meranda to court over impeachment

Obasa drags Lagos Assembly, Meranda to court over impeachment

The impeached speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has filed a judicial appeal challenging his removal as speaker.

The member sued the Assembly and its new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, in Ikeja State High Court, arguing that the lawmakers were improper to dismiss him during the Assembly’s recess.

Obasa, represented by Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, filed a motion on February 12, 2025, requesting an order from the court for an accelerated hearing of the complaint.

On January 13, 2025, 36 members ousted Obasa from his position as Lagos Assembly speaker while he was out of the country.

He protested his removal upon his return to the country, claiming that he was still the speaker.

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Among the relief sought by the lawmaker is a court order setting a date for the expeditious hearing of the originating summons and limiting the time within which the defendants may file their response by way of counter-affidavits/written addresses to seven days after the hearing and determination of the application.

Obasa was impeached by members of the Assembly, citing corruption, misappropriation of funds, and other things as their reason.

In the request filed at the court on Friday, Obasa also sought an order of the court abridging the term within which the plaintiff may file its reply of points of law to three days.

Obasa’s application is predicated on nine grounds, among which is the interpretation of sections 36, 90, 92(2)(c), 101, and 311 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) vis-à-vis Order V, Rule 18(2), and Order II, Rule 9(1)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) of the Rules and Standing Order of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Part of the motion reads, “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 reconvene the House.

“Public interest requires the case to be heard and determined speedily and expeditiously so that legislative activities in the state are not stalled.

“The legality of the continued sitting of the 1st defendant under the present leadership in violation of the aforementioned laws and rules calls for an urgent determination.

“This Honourable Court is imbued with inherent powers to grant accelerated hearing and abridgment of time.”

At the time of filing this report, a date has not been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Obasa drags Lagos Assembly, Meranda to court over impeachment