Wednesday, April 16, 2025 - The leadership crisis within the Lagos State House of Assembly took another dramatic twist on Wednesday as the Lagos High Court nullified the impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa, declaring his removal illegal and unconstitutional.
Delivering judgment, Justice Yetunde Pinheiro set aside all
proceedings and resolutions of the Assembly held on January 13, 2025, during
which Obasa was ousted as Speaker.
Obasa had filed a suit challenging his removal, naming the
House of Assembly and Mojisola Meranda, who was appointed Speaker in his place,
as defendants. The suit, filed on February 12, 2025, through his counsel, Chief
Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), argued that his removal was conducted while the Assembly
was on recess and he was out of the country.
He further contended that the session at which he was removed
was unlawfully convened, lacking any legitimate authority or delegation of
power from his office as Speaker.
Obasa's legal challenge was based on nine grounds, citing the
1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Standing Orders of the Lagos State House
of Assembly. He argued that due process was not followed in the impeachment
process.
In a controversial move ahead of the ruling, Obasa
unilaterally changed the legal counsel representing the Assembly in court, a
decision that sparked outrage among the 35 lawmakers who had earlier endorsed
his removal.
With the court’s ruling, Obasa is reinstated as Speaker, and
all decisions made during the disputed sitting have been rendered null and
void.
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