The legal team representing the ousted Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has denied any plans to withdraw the lawsuit challenging his removal, despite ongoing political mediation efforts.
Obasa’s lead counsel, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), confirmed on Tuesday that they are prepared for the scheduled court hearing on February 28, regardless of high-level interventions aimed at resolving the Assembly’s leadership crisis.
Fashanu emphasized that Obasa will not return to the Assembly until a court judgment is secured, stating that doing otherwise could be deemed illegal.
Obasa was removed as Speaker on January 13, 2025, while he was in the United States. Upon his return on January 25, he rejected the move, insisting that proper legal procedures were not followed.
Political leaders, including former Osun and Ogun governors Chief Bisi Akande and Aremo Olusegun Osoba, have been mediating the dispute. Reports indicate that a settlement proposal suggests both Obasa and his successor, Mojisola Meranda, step down for a new Speaker from Lagos West Senatorial District.
Despite this, Fashanu insists no official directive has been given to withdraw the suit. “As lawyers, we are committed to facilitating our client’s case. He has a strong legal standing,” he said.
Meanwhile, tensions at the Assembly escalated further on Tuesday as the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the remand of three Assembly workers for allegedly assaulting Department of State Services (DSS) officers.
The trio—identified as Ibrahim Olanrewaju, Adetu Adekunle, and Fatimoh Adetola—were arrested following a February 17 altercation with DSS personnel. They face charges including obstruction of duty, cyberstalking, and conspiracy to incite unrest through social media.
The Lagos State chapter of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has condemned the arrests, demanding the immediate release of the detained staff. The union called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene, citing concerns over their health and human rights violations.
As legal and political battles unfold, the fate of the Lagos Assembly leadership remains uncertain, with both the courts and political actors playing pivotal roles in shaping the outcome.
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