Mudashiru Obasa, the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has filed a case against the Assembly and its new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, questioning the validity of his dismissal from office.
The suit, which is yet to be assigned to a judge, seeks a court declaration that his colleagues in the House acted unlawfully by removing him while the Assembly was on recess.
In the application dated 12 February 2025 and filed by his lawyer, Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, the plaintiff claimed that he was removed from his position on 13 January 2025 by 36 lawmakers while he was out of the country.
The impeached lawmaker is seeking the following reliefs: an order of the court to fix a date for an accelerated hearing of the case and to shorten the time allowed for the defendants to respond with counter-affidavits or written addresses to seven days after the hearing.
Obasa also asked the court to limit the time for the plaintiff to file replies on points of law to three days.
His application is based on nine grounds, focusing on 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 plaintiff challenges the constitutionality of the Lagos State House of Assembly’s sitting and proceedings during recess without the Speaker convening the House or delegating authority to another person.
“Public interest necessitates that this case be heard and resolved quickly to avoid disruption of legislative activities in the state,” Obasa argued.
He maintained that the court must urgently determine the legality of the Assembly’s current leadership, as it violates applicable laws and rules.
He further asserted that the court holds inherent powers to grant expedited hearings and impose time limitations.
No date has been fixed for the hearing.
Obasa was impeached on 13 January while he was out of the country by more than two-thirds of the 40-member legislative house over alleged misconduct and other offences.
