A Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has declared that the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly was illegal and against the law.
Justice Yetunde Pinheiro gave the ruling on Wednesday and also cancelled all the actions and decisions taken by the Assembly on January 13, 2025, the day Obasa was removed.
Obasa had taken the House of Assembly and Mojisola Meranda — who replaced him as Speaker — to court, saying his removal did not follow the law. He said it happened while the House was on recess and he was out of the country.
His lawyer, Chief Afolabi Fashanu, told the court that 36 lawmakers met and removed Obasa without his knowledge and without properly calling a sitting, which is against the rules of the House.
Obasa argued that the session was not valid because it was held without his permission or any official arrangement, which breaks the Assembly’s Standing Orders and the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Justice Pinheiro agreed with Obasa’s arguments and ruled that his removal and all actions taken during that session were “null and void.”
Obasa, who represents Agege Constituency I and has been elected six times, was accused of abuse of office and misconduct before he was removed. Mojisola Meranda was chosen to replace him.
However, after political moves and pressure, Obasa was reinstated as Speaker after 49 days. Even after his return, he continued the legal battle to prove that his removal was unlawful.
The court has now confirmed that his removal did not follow proper procedures.
