In the early hours of Monday, operatives from the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigeria Police forcefully entered the premises of the Lagos State House of Assembly, sealing the offices of Speaker Mojisola Meranda, her deputy, and the House Clerk.
By 10 am, armed security personnel had taken control of the area around Alausa, Ikeja, frisking passersby. Speaker Meranda arrived at the premises around 11:15 am.
This move follows the ongoing legal battle involving the former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who is challenging his removal from office. Obasa, who was removed by 32 out of the 40 lawmakers in absentia on January 13, 2025, while he was in the United States, has filed a lawsuit against the state assembly, demanding an expedited hearing of the matter.
Obasa’s lawsuit, filed on February 12, 2025, at the Ikeja Division of the State High Court, seeks to contest the legality of his removal. The motion names the Lagos State House of Assembly and the current Speaker, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, as defendants. His application requests several legal reliefs, including an expedited hearing and the abridgement of response times by the defendants.
Obasa’s legal team, led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, argues that the suit pertains to the interpretation of constitutional and legislative provisions, particularly questioning the constitutionality of the session on January 13, 2025, which led to his removal.
The lawsuit also calls for a quick resolution to prevent further delays in legislative activities in Lagos State, emphasizing the urgency of the matter due to the exceptional circumstances surrounding the case. Obasa insists that none of the involved parties would suffer any injustice if his request for accelerated proceedings is granted.
