Former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has taken legal action against the Assembly and the new speaker, Mojisola Meranda, challenging the legality of his removal from office.
Obasa filed a suit before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, arguing that his impeachment on January 13, 2025, was unlawful as it took place while the Assembly was on recess.
The suit, which is yet to be assigned to a judge, seeks a declaration that the lawmakers acted beyond their powers by removing him without proper procedure.
In an application dated February 12, 2025, filed by his lawyer, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), Obasa claimed he was impeached by 36 lawmakers while he was out of the country.
He is asking the court to expedite the hearing and limit the time for the defendants to file counter-affidavits to seven days after the hearing. He also wants his own time to respond to legal arguments capped at three days.
Obasa’s case is built on the interpretation of sections of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Lagos Assembly’s Rules and Standing Orders.
He argues that the House could not have lawfully sat during recess without him convening the session or delegating authority to another lawmaker to do so.
He insists that the matter is of public interest and must be resolved urgently to prevent disruptions in the Assembly’s activities.
Obasa, who was impeached over alleged misconduct and other infractions, returned to Lagos on January 25 to a welcome rally at his residence in GRA, Ikeja.
He maintained that he was not afraid of impeachment but accused the Assembly of failing to follow due process.
The former speaker further alleged that his removal was orchestrated while he was abroad, with the state commissioner of police playing a role in the process.
He claimed that security agents led by the police commissioner stormed the Assembly complex and his residences in Agege and Ikeja, restricting his family indoors with over 200 officers present.
Obasa has denied allegations of financial misappropriation. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.
