Former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has filed a lawsuit against the Assembly and his successor, Mojisola Meranda, contesting the legality of his removal from office.
Obasa initiated the legal action at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, arguing that his impeachment on January 13, 2025, was unconstitutional since it occurred while the House was on recess.
The case, which has not yet been assigned to a judge, seeks a declaration that his removal was unlawful and did not follow the proper legislative procedures.
Through his legal counsel, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), Obasa contended that 36 lawmakers voted him out while he was out of the country, without prior notification or adherence to due process. He has requested the court to grant an expedited hearing, giving the defendants only seven days to respond, while limiting his own reply period to three days.
“The legality of the current Assembly leadership must be urgently examined, as their actions violate existing laws and legislative guidelines,” Obasa stated in his court filing.
His lawsuit also questions the interpretation of specific provisions in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly. He insists that a legislative session cannot take place during recess unless it is formally convened by the Speaker or authorized through proper delegation.
Upon his return to Lagos on January 25, Obasa was welcomed by a large crowd of supporters. He emphasized that he was never afraid of impeachment but insisted that the procedure followed in his removal was illegitimate.
Furthermore, he accused security personnel, allegedly led by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, of facilitating his ousting by deploying over 200 officers to his residences and the Assembly complex.
Obasa’s impeachment was reportedly backed by over two-thirds of the 40-member House due to alleged misconduct. Following his removal, Mojisola Meranda was elected as the first female Speaker in the history of the Lagos Assembly.
As of now, no date has been set for the court hearing.
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