- Justice Yetunde Pinheiro adjourned Obasa’s suit challenging his removal as Speaker.
- The court will hear all applications, including fraud allegations, on March 17.
- Obasa’s refusal to withdraw the suit signals ongoing tension among lawmakers.
Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has adjourned the hearing of a suit filed by the reinstated Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, to March 17, 2025.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Obasa is challenging his removal as Speaker on January 13, 2025, following allegations of fraud, high-handedness, abuse of office, and gross misconduct leveled against him by 35 lawmakers. The respondents in the suit include members of the Lagos State House of Assembly and former Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
The hearing was initially scheduled for March 10, 2025, but during Monday’s proceedings, the counsel representing the House of Assembly, Femi Falana (SAN), informed the court that Obasa’s legal team, led by Afolabi Fasanu (SAN), had served additional affidavits on the same day.
“The claimant’s counsel served us further affidavits today, requiring my clients to respond,” Falana said.
Counsel for Meranda, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), also highlighted that the new affidavits contained serious allegations of fraud against his client.
“There are serious fraud allegations in the newly filed affidavits. We shall be asking for an adjournment to respond to the application,” Oyetibo stated.
In addition, Olusola Idowu (SAN) announced his appearance as an incoming counsel representing the House of Assembly in the case. However, Falana requested that the court hear the application for a change of counsel before addressing other pending applications.
Citing a Court of Appeal ruling, Falana argued that trial courts must first address applications for a change of counsel before proceeding with other matters. In response, Justice Pinheiro ruled that all applications, including those seeking injunctions and those challenging jurisdiction, would be heard together on the next adjourned date.
“All applications, including those seeking injunctions and those challenging jurisdiction, will be heard on March 17, 2025. The application concerning the change of counsel will also be addressed on the same day,” Pinheiro ruled.
She further directed all parties to file, serve, and exchange their legal processes before the next hearing.
Obasa was reinstated as Speaker of the Lagos Assembly following an intervention by the leadership of the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC), while Meranda stepped down and resumed her role as Deputy Speaker.
However, Obasa’s refusal to withdraw the lawsuit, which he had filed before the political resolution, suggests underlying tensions remain between him and other lawmakers.
In her speech announcing her resignation as Speaker, Meranda emphasized that her decision was made in respect for the party’s supremacy rather than out of fear. During an emotion-laden session, several lawmakers praised Meranda and stated that they accepted Obasa’s reinstatement out of loyalty to the party’s leadership.
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