The impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has filed a lawsuit demanding N1 billion in damages, claiming his removal caused him psychological trauma and public embarrassment.
In the suit dated February 12, 2025, filed before Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, Obasa, through his legal team led by Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), argued that his impeachment violated the House’s standing rules and his constitutional right to a fair hearing.
Obasa was ousted from office on January 13, 2025, following allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of power, paving the way for Mojisola Meranda to be elected as the new Speaker of the House.
The former Speaker is seeking several court declarations, including that his impeachment was “illegal, unlawful, ultra vires, and unconstitutional,” citing sections 90, 91, 92, and 101 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
His suit also requests “a declaration that by the provisions of Section 36 (1)(2)(a)&(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Order II Rules 9 (i)- (viii) of the Rules and Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the purported removal of the Claimant as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly is unlawful and a nullity.”
Obasa is asking the court for “an order setting aside the purported sitting and proceedings of the 1st Defendant (House of Assembly) on 13th January, 2025 and the resolutions or decisions by whatever description ascribed to such, including the purported removal of the Claimant as the Speaker and the purported installation of the 2nd Defendant (Meranda) as the Speaker of the 1st Defendant.”
He is also seeking “an order compelling the immediate reinstatement of the Claimant as the Honourable Speaker of the 1st Defendant” and “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 2nd Defendant from parading or further parading herself as the Speaker of the 1st Defendant, Lagos State House of Assembly.”
READ MORE: https://parallelfactsnews.com/mikel-obi-slams-carragher-over-afcon-comment/
Furthermore, Obasa is requesting “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st Defendant whether by themselves or their privies or anybody however acting through them or on their instruction from interfering with or disturbing the Claimant from discharging his constitutional roles and duties as the Speaker of the House of Assembly.”
The former Speaker is also demanding “general damages in the sum of N1,000,000,000 (One Billion Naira only) for the wrongful, illegal and unconstitutional removal of the Claimant as the Speaker of the 1st Defendant and consequent psychological trauma and embarrassment which the purported removal has placed on the Claimant as a result of the pressure of the people of Agege 1 Constituency of Lagos State on him.”
During the first hearing on Friday, Justice Pinheiro ruled that all pending applications would be heard on March 7. The court also granted a request from some lawmakers to join the suit as parties.
Obasa was absent from the court proceedings, and his legal team declined to speak to journalists afterward.
The legal battle has further deepened the political crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly, as both sides prepare for what promises to be a high-stakes showdown in court.
Follow the Parallel Facts channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E
