Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has postponed the hearing of a lawsuit filed by the reinstated Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, to March 17, 2025. Obasa is challenging his removal as Speaker on January 13, 2025, after 35 lawmakers accused him of fraud, high-handedness, abuse of office, and gross misconduct.
The defendants in the suit include members of the Lagos State House of Assembly and former Speaker, Mojisola Meranda. Initially set for March 10, 2025, the hearing was delayed after Obasa’s legal team, led by Afolabi Fasanu (SAN), filed further affidavits on the same day.
Femi Falana (SAN), representing the House of Assembly, informed the court about the newly filed documents, while Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), counsel for Meranda, pointed out the serious fraud allegations in the affidavits and requested an adjournment to respond.
Olusola Idowu (SAN) also appeared as the incoming counsel for the House of Assembly. Falana argued for the court to prioritize the application for a change of counsel before proceeding with other matters, citing a Court of Appeal ruling. Justice Pinheiro agreed, deciding that all applications, including those for injunctions and jurisdiction challenges, would be heard together on March 17, 2025.
She also instructed all parties to exchange and file their processes before the next hearing.
Obasa’s reinstatement as Speaker came after the intervention of the Lagos APC leadership, with Meranda stepping down to return to her role as Deputy Speaker. Despite this, Obasa’s decision to continue with the lawsuit suggests unresolved tensions between him and the other lawmakers. In her resignation speech, Meranda emphasized that her move was made out of respect for the party, not out of fear. Most lawmakers expressed their admiration for her and confirmed that Obasa’s return to the Speaker’s position was in deference to the party’s authority.
