Men of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigeria Police stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly in the early hours of Monday, sealing off the offices of the Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, her deputy, and the clerk of the House. By 10 a.m., armed security personnel had taken control of the premises at Alausa, Ikeja, frisking every passerby. However, Meranda arrived with her convoy at about 11:15 a.m.
It is important to note that the former Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, has filed a lawsuit against the state lawmakers, challenging his removal as Speaker. Obasa has submitted a motion to the Ikeja Division of the State High Court, where he is also seeking an expedited hearing of his case. He was removed in absentia by 32 out of the 40 members of the state Assembly on January 13, 2025, while he was in America. This situation has been described by President Bola Tinubu as a “coup.” The development has sparked controversy, with members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), an apex political decision-making body in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, divided over Obasa’s removal. In his lawsuit, Obasa is seeking to challenge the legality of his ouster.
The motion, made available to Vanguard Media, was filed on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, and names the Lagos State House of Assembly and Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, the current Speaker of the House, as defendants. In the suit filed by his legal team, led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, Obasa is seeking several reliefs, including: 1. An order fixing a date for an expedited hearing of the originating summons. 2. An order from the court abridging the time for the defendants to file their response through counter-affidavits or written addresses to 7 days after the hearing and determination of this application. 3. An order abridging the time for Obasa to file his reply on points of law to 3 days after the service of the defendants’ processes on him.
Obasa’s application is based on nine grounds, including the interpretation of various sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and the Rules and Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The suit states, in part: “This application concerns the interpretation of Sections 36, 90, 92(2)(c), 101, and 311 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), in relation to ORDER V RULE 18(2) and Order II Rule 9(1)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) of the Rules and Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly (which enjoy constitutional recognition). “This action challenges the constitutionality of the sitting and proceedings of the Lagos State House of Assembly on January 13, 2025, when the Plaintiff, as the Honourable Speaker, was said to have been impeached. It questions the legality of the assembly’s session held during recess without the Speaker reconvening or designating anyone else to do so.
The case requires prompt hearing and resolution in the public interest, to avoid stalling legislative activities in the state. Obasa argues that the ongoing proceedings under the current leadership are in violation of the aforementioned laws and rules and require urgent determination. The nature of this case necessitates an expedited hearing due to the exceptional circumstances surrounding it. There is a need to shorten the timeframe for the defendants to respond to the originating summons, as well as for the claimant to file his reply on points of law. The court has the inherent authority to grant accelerated hearings and shorten timelines in the interest of justice. Obasa maintains that granting his application would not prejudice either party involved in the case or result in any injustice.
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