Lagos Assembly Saga: Obasa Pursues Suit Against Meranda, Lawmakers Despite Tinubu’s Intervention

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, on Sunday, dismissed speculations that he would be dropping the suit against erstwhile Speaker Mojisola Meranda and the Assembly members.

OSUN DEFENDER reports that Obasa was re-elected as speaker following Meranda’s resignation from the position.

The development followed a 49-day reign of Meranda as the first female Speaker of the Lagos Assembly, a period that was, however, marred by a heated leadership crisis as Obasa, who was earlier removed on January 13, kept fighting his way back to the Speaker’s Office.

The crisis was later resolved by the national leadership of the APC, which prevailed over the lawmakers to allow Obasa to return.

All 40 lawmakers of the House later met with President Tinubu in Abuja on March 12, 2025, where the President further settled the grievances among the lawmakers, particularly between Obasa and Meranda.

After his re-election, Obasa adjourned the plenary indefinitely on March 3, 2025.

The House has not called a sitting since March 3 in what looks like a pause in the functions of the legislative arm of the state.

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Speaking with The Punch, Counsel to Obasa, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), noted that his team was awaiting the court judgement on the matter and there was no going back.

This is despite President Bola Tinubu’s recent intervention in resolving the leadership crisis at the Lagos Assembly with sources maintaining that part of the settlement was for Obasa to withdraw the suit against his colleagues.

On March 17, 2025, Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court, where the case is being heard, reserved judgment in the suit filed by Obasa, who is challenging the legality of the January 13, 2025 proceedings that led to his initial removal.

The judge heard several preliminary objections by various counsel representing the defendants and said the date to deliver the judgment and rulings would be communicated to parties in due course.

“We are just waiting for the judgment. We don’t know when yet, the court said they will communicate it to us,” Fashanu said on Sunday.

When asked if Obasa was still considering withdrawing the suit, he said, “We have concluded. You’re twisting the hand of the clock back. We have concluded arguments; that one does not arise again. He’s not withdrawing, we have concluded.

When asked last Tuesday when the House would be reconvening, the Clerk, Ottun Babatunde, told our correspondent that the Assembly would likely resume after the Sallah break.

He said, “We adjourned sine die (indefinitely), but (we will) likely (resume) after Sallah by God’s grace.”

Olamilekan Adigun

Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.

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