In the early hours of Monday, operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigeria Police stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly, sealing the offices of Speaker Mojisola Meranda, her deputy, and the Clerk of the House.
By 10 a.m., armed security personnel had taken control of the Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja, conducting thorough checks on all passersby. Despite the heavy security presence, Speaker Meranda arrived at the premises with her convoy at approximately 11:15 a.m.
The dramatic security intervention comes as the former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, continues his legal battle to reclaim his position. Obasa, who was removed in absentia by 32 out of the 40 House members on January 13, 2025, has filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of his impeachment. At the time of his removal, Obasa was in the United States, and his ousting was controversially described as a “coup” by President Bola Tinubu.
The case has divided members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the apex political decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, with differing opinions on the legitimacy of Obasa’s removal.
In his suit, filed at the Ikeja Division of the Lagos State High Court on February 12, 2025, Obasa named the Lagos State House of Assembly and the new Speaker, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, as defendants. His legal team, led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), is seeking an expedited hearing and a ruling on the constitutionality of the Assembly’s actions.
Among the reliefs sought in the suit are:
- A request for a fixed date for an accelerated hearing of the case.
- An order shortening the time within which the defendants must file their responses to seven days after the application is heard.
- An order limiting the plaintiff’s time to file a reply to three days after receiving the defendants’ responses.
The suit questions the interpretation of several sections of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), including Sections 36, 90, 92(2)(c), 101, and 311, as well as the Rules and Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Obasa’s legal challenge centers on the argument that his removal was unconstitutional, stating that:
- The House sat and conducted proceedings during recess without the Speaker’s authorization or delegation of authority to reconvene the session.
- The Assembly’s decision to impeach him without due process violated the Constitution and House rules.
- The continued sitting of the House under the current leadership is illegal and requires urgent judicial intervention.
The suit further asserts that resolving the matter swiftly is crucial to ensuring the smooth operation of legislative activities in the state.
Obasa’s application emphasizes that the case should be heard expeditiously, arguing that none of the parties involved would suffer prejudice or injustice if the court grants an accelerated hearing. His legal team maintains that the court has inherent powers to shorten procedural timelines in the interest of justice.
As the legal battle unfolds, the political landscape in Lagos remains tense, with stakeholders closely watching the outcome of the court proceedings. The Assembly’s future leadership and stability now hinge on the court’s ruling in what could be a landmark decision for legislative governance in the state.
