By Our Reporter
Politics in Lagos took a drastic turn on Monday as personnel from 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 AM, heavily armed security forces had fully secured the premises at Alausa, Ikeja, and were conducting thorough checks on passersby. Meranda, however, arrived at the office at around 11:15 AM with her convoy.
This development comes after former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa filed a lawsuit against the Lagos State House of Assembly, challenging his removal from office. Obasa was ousted by 32 out of 40 Assembly members on January 13, 2025, while he was in the U.S. His removal has been widely described as a “coup” by President Bola Tinubu.
The issue has sparked controversy, with members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) in the All Progressives Congress (APC) divided over the legality of Obasa’s removal.
Obasa is seeking to challenge the constitutionality of his dismissal in a case he filed at the Ikeja Division of the Lagos State High Court. In the suit, Obasa is requesting expedited hearings.
On February 12, 2025, Obasa’s legal team, led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, filed a motion naming the Lagos State House of Assembly and current Speaker Meranda as defendants. The motion includes several demands, including:
A date for the prompt hearing of the case.
A reduction in the time for filing responses to counter affidavits and written addresses.
A shortened period for filing Obasa’s reply.
The suit, according to Obasa’s legal team, revolves around the interpretation of various sections of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and the rules of the Lagos State House of Assembly, particularly focusing on the legitimacy of the January 13 sitting where Obasa was removed.
Obasa’s application argues that the sitting was unconstitutional, as the Assembly reconvened without the Speaker’s authorization, and that his removal violates constitutional and procedural requirements.
Obasa’s legal team insists that an expedited hearing is crucial to avoid any disruption to the state’s legislative processes. They also stress that granting the application will not cause any harm or injustice to the parties involved.
Source: Vanguard.