Lagos Court Rules Obasa’s Removal as Speaker Was Illegal

The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has ruled that the way Mudashiru Obasa was removed as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly was not lawful and went against the Nigerian Constitution.

Justice Yetunde Pinheiro, who gave the judgment on Wednesday, said the Assembly’s sitting in January, where Obasa was removed, was invalid. She cancelled all decisions and resolutions made during that session.

Obasa had taken the matter to court after he was replaced by Mojisola Meranda as Speaker. He claimed the process that led to his removal was not done properly.

In his case, Obasa argued through his lawyer, Chief Afolabi Fashanu, that the lawmakers held the meeting during a period when the Assembly was supposed to be on break. He said he was not even in the country at the time, and no one had the right to call a sitting without his approval.

He also pointed out that the meeting broke the rules set by the House itself and did not follow the procedures stated in the 1999 Constitution and the Standing Orders of the Lagos Assembly.

After reviewing the case, the court agreed with Obasa and ruled that his removal did not follow due process. This means all actions taken during that illegal sitting have now been cancelled.