The legal team of the ousted Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa, has reiterated that there are no plans to withdraw the suit challenging his removal from office. Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), Obasa’s lead counsel, confirmed the legal team’s readiness for the court hearing scheduled for February 28, 2025, despite ongoing political efforts to resolve the crisis within the Assembly.
Fashanu clarified that Obasa would not be returning to the Assembly until a judgment is delivered on the case, emphasizing that doing so before the court ruling would be considered illegal. The suit, filed by Obasa, seeks redress following his removal by the majority of lawmakers on January 13, 2025, while he was in the United States.
Upon his return to Nigeria on January 25, Obasa maintained that he was still the rightful Speaker of the Assembly, arguing that the removal lacked proper legal procedure. “If you want to remove me, remove me the proper way and I will not contest it,” Obasa asserted at the time.
Since his removal and the subsequent emergence of Mojisola Meranda as the new Speaker, the Lagos Assembly has faced internal turmoil, which has been difficult for the Governors Advisory Council (GAC) to resolve. To mediate the crisis, President Bola Tinubu enlisted former governors Bisi Akande (Osun) and Aremo Olusegun Osoba (Ogun), who held extensive meetings with the warring parties over the weekend.
The GAC panel reportedly recommended that both Obasa and Meranda step down from the speakership, with the suggestion that a new candidate from the Lagos West Senatorial District take over. The panel also proposed that Obasa withdraw his legal suit. However, Fashanu responded, stating that the legal team had not been officially informed of any such settlement or request for withdrawal of the suit.
“We have not been communicated to in any formal way about withdrawing the suit,” Fashanu said. “For us, it remains a rumor until our client informs us otherwise.”
Fashanu also indicated that the decision of whether or not to pursue an amicable resolution lies with Obasa, who, he emphasized, is in the best position to determine the course of action regarding any potential political settlement.
Meanwhile, the legal team remains committed to representing Obasa in court. “As lawyers, we will do our best to facilitate our client’s case,” Fashanu affirmed. “But the judge will ultimately decide the case.”
On the matter of Obasa’s potential return to the Assembly, Fashanu stressed that such an action before the court’s decision would be unlawful. “It would be illegal for Obasa to return before the case is decided,” he explained.
