Obasa approaches Court over impeachment saga

Embattled former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has approached the court to challenge his impeachment.

Obasa is challenging the Assembly and the new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, before a State High Court in Ikeja, claiming that the lawmakers erred in removing him while the state’s legislative arm was in recess.

In a motion dated February 12, 2025, filed through his counsel led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, Obasa sought an order of the court for an accelerated hearing of the suit.

Obasa was removed as the Lagos Assembly Speaker on January 13, 2025, while he was abroad, by 36 lawmakers.

However, upon his return to the country, he challenged his removal, declaring that the action could not stand as he remained the Speaker.

In his suit, Obasa is seeking, among other reliefs, an order of the court fixing a date for the expeditious hearing of the originating summons and abridging 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.

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

The embattled lawmaker’s application is predicated on nine grounds, including 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)-(viii) of the Rules and Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

"This action challenges the constitutionality of the sitting and proceedings of the Lagos State House of Assembly during recess without the Speaker reconvening the House or granting any other person the power to do so.

“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.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.