The legal team of Mudashiru Obasa, the ousted Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has confirmed that he will not return to the Assembly until the court has ruled on his suit challenging his removal.
According to his lead counsel, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), Obasa’s return to the Assembly before the court’s decision would be illegal.
Obasa was removed as Speaker by the majority of lawmakers on January 13, 2025, while he was away in the United States. He has since rejected his removal, citing illegalities in the approach of the lawmakers who removed him. Upon his return on January 25, Obasa maintained that he was still the Speaker of the House.
The Crisis and Attempts at Resolution
The Lagos Assembly has been embroiled in a crisis since Obasa’s removal, with the powerful Governors Advisory Council (GAC) struggling to resolve the issue. President Bola Tinubu recently intervened, drafting former governors of Osun and Ogun states, Chief Bisi Akande and Aremo Olusegun Osoba, to mediate the crisis.
The mediating panel reportedly recommended that both Obasa and the new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, should step down for another lawmaker from the Lagos West Senatorial District. However, Obasa’s lawyer, Fashanu, stated that he had not been briefed on any plans to withdraw the suit.
Court Case and Next Steps
The court hearing is scheduled for February 28, and Fashanu confirmed that they are prepared to proceed with the case. Obasa’s legal team believes he has a strong case, and they will put in their maximum effort to facilitate his cause.
In a related development, the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the remand of three Assembly workers in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly assaulting DSS officers. The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, condemned the detention of the workers, calling for their release and a thorough investigation into the matter.