Lagos High Court Reinstates Obasa as Speaker, Nullifies January Ouster
The High Court sitting in Ikeja has nullified the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, effectively reinstating him to the powerful position he lost earlier this year.
Justice Yetunde Pinheiro, delivering the landmark ruling on Wednesday, voided the proceedings and resolution passed by the House on January 13, 2025, which saw Obasa ousted by a majority of his fellow lawmakers. He had been accused of gross misconduct and abuse of office.
Obasa’s removal had paved the way for a historic moment, with Mojisola Meranda, then the deputy speaker, elected as the first female Speaker in Lagos State’s history. However, Obasa, who was outside the country at the time, swiftly rejected the decision, labelling it illegal. He subsequently filed a legal challenge contesting the constitutionality of the assembly’s move.
The internal shake-up triggered significant unrest within the House, leading to a deepening crisis that drew the attention of top All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts. Political heavyweights, including former governors Bisi Akande (Osun) and Olusegun Osoba (Ogun), reportedly intervened in a bid to broker peace.
After just 49 days in office, Meranda stepped down during a plenary session on March 3, clearing the path for Obasa’s return. His colleagues re-nominated and re-elected him in a swift turn of events that underscored the volatile dynamics within the assembly.
