In the early hours of Monday, operatives from the Department of State Security (DSS) and Nigeria Police stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly, sealing off the offices of the Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, her deputy, and the Clerk of the House. Armed security personnel were deployed to secure the premises in Alausa, Ikeja, frisking passersby as the situation unfolded.
Speaker Meranda arrived at the scene around 11:15 AM with her convoy. This development comes amid the ongoing legal battle over the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who has filed a lawsuit challenging his ousting from office.
Obasa, who was removed in absentia on January 13, 2025, by 32 out of the 40 members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, is currently in the United States. His removal has sparked controversy within the Lagos Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the top decision-making body of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, with some members divided over the legitimacy of the action.
In his legal suit, filed on February 12, 2025, Obasa seeks to challenge the legality of his removal, citing constitutional issues and breaches of the Lagos State House of Assembly’s Rules and Standing Orders. The suit names Speaker Mojisola Meranda and the House itself as defendants.
Obasa’s application includes a request for an expedited hearing, arguing that the case involves critical constitutional interpretations regarding the legality of the Assembly’s proceedings on the day of his removal. His motion calls for a swift resolution to avoid further disruption of legislative activities in the state.
The former Speaker’s legal team, led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, is requesting an accelerated hearing and an abridged timeline for filing responses. Obasa maintains that no party would be prejudiced by granting his application for expedited proceedings, emphasizing the urgency of the case in light of the exceptional circumstances surrounding his removal.
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