Embattled Lagos lawmaker, Mudashiru Obasa, has sued the Lagos State House of Assembly and the new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda following his removal as the speaker.
Obasa who had spent 10 years in the position before his shock ouster challenged his removal as the Speaker of the Assembly before a State High Court in Ikeja.
According to The PUNCH, Obasa who has been missing-in-action at the Assembly since his removal faulted the move, and its validity as the Assembly was on recess when his colleagues removed him on January 13, 2025, by 36 lawmakers while he was out of the country.
In a motion dated February 12, 2025, Obasa, through his counsel led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, sought an order from the court for an accelerated hearing of the suit.
He contested his removal upon his return to the country, asserting that he remained the rightful speaker.
Among the reliefs he is seeking is a court order to set a date for the prompt hearing of the originating summons and to shorten the response time for the defendants to submit their counter-affidavits or written addresses to seven days following the hearing and resolution of the application.
In the motion submitted to the court on Friday, Obasa also requested an order reducing the time allowed for the plaintiff to file a reply on points of law to three days.
The embattled lawmaker’s application is predicated on nine grounds, among which is the interpretation of sections 36; 90; 92(2)(c); 101 and 311 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended) vis-à-vis Order V, Rule 18(2) and Order II, Rule 9(1)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) of Rules and Standing Order of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Part of the motion reads, “This action challenges the constitutionality of the sitting and proceedings of the Lagos State House of Assembly to sit during recess without the Speaker reconvening the House or giving any other person powers to reconvene the House.
“Public interest requires the case to be heard and determined speedily and expeditiously so that legislative activities in the state are not stalled.
“The legality of the continued sitting of the 1st defendant under the present leadership in violation of the aforementioned laws and rules calls for an urgent determination.
“This Honourable Court is imbued with inherent powers to grant accelerated hearing and abridgement of time.”
As of the time of filing this report, a date has not been fixed for the suit as of the time of filing this report.
