Court Fixes March 17 To Hear Obasa’s Suit Against Meranda, Others

A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has adjourned the hearing of a suit filed by the reinstated Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa to March 17, 2025.

Obasa challenged his removal as Speaker on January 13, 2025, after 35 lawmakers accused him of fraud, high-handedness, abuse of office, and gross misconduct.

The suit named members of the Lagos Assembly and former Speaker Mojisola Meranda as respondents.

The case was initially scheduled for hearing on March 10, 2025, but at Monday’s proceedings, counsel for the House of Assembly, Femi Falana (SAN), informed the court that Obasa’s legal team, led by Afolabi Fasanu (SAN) had just served further affidavits.

“The claimant’s counsel served us further affidavits today, challenging my clients to respond,” Falana told the court.

Similarly, Meranda’s counsel, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), raised concerns over new fraud allegations included in the affidavits.

“There are serious fraud allegations in the further affidavits my learned brother referred to. We shall be asking for an adjournment to respond to the new application,” Oyetibo stated.

The proceedings also saw the introduction of Olusola Idowu (SAN) as an incoming counsel representing the House of Assembly.

However, Falana urged the court to first determine the application for a change of counsel before addressing other matters.

He cited a Court of Appeal ruling, which mandates trial courts to resolve such applications before proceeding with any other legal matters.

Justice Yetunde Pinheiro ruled that all pending applications, including those seeking injunctions and challenging jurisdiction, would be heard together on March 17, 2025.

“All applications, including those seeking injunctions and those challenging jurisdiction, will be heard on March 17, 2025. The application concerning the change of counsel will also be addressed on the same day,” Justice Pinheiro ruled.

She directed all parties to file, serve, and exchange their processes before the next hearing.

Obasa was reinstated as Speaker following an intervention by the leadership of the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC), which also saw Meranda return to her previous role as Deputy Speaker. However, his decision to proceed with the lawsuit, despite the political resolution, suggests lingering tensions within the Assembly.

In her address stepping down from the Speaker’s seat, Meranda emphasised that her decision was in deference to the party’s authority rather than an act of cowardice.

“I took this decision in deference for the party’s supremacy and not out of cowardice,” she stated.

During an emotion-laden session, several lawmakers praised Meranda, affirming that their acceptance of Obasa’s reinstatement was out of respect for the party.