In the early hours of Monday, operatives from the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly located in Alausa, Ikeja. They sealed off the offices of key officials including the Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, her deputy, and the Clerk of the House. By 10:00 AM, armed security personnel had taken control of the premises, conducting thorough checks on all individuals entering the area.
Despite the heightened security measures, Speaker Mojisola Meranda arrived at the Assembly at approximately 11:15 AM with her convoy, to carry on with legislative duties amidst the tension.
Legal Battle Over Speaker Leadership
This significant security action comes in the wake of a legal challenge by Mudashiru Obasa, the former Speaker of the House. Obasa was removed from his position in absentia on January 13, 2025, while he was in the United States. The removal, labeled as a “coup” by President Bola Tinubu, was executed by 32 out of the 40 members of the Assembly.
Obasa’s Legal Moves
Obasa has taken legal action by filing a suit at the Ikeja Division of the Lagos State High Court. His legal team, led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, is seeking various reliefs including an accelerated hearing of his case. The suit challenges the legality of his impeachment, questioning the constitutionality of the Assembly’s proceedings on the day of his removal, especially since it occurred during a recess period without the Speaker’s reconvening order.
Details of the Legal Petition
- Obasa’s lawsuit lists several grounds for his application, including:
- Interpretation of sections of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) and the Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
- The legality of the Assembly sitting during a recess without proper reconvening.
- The urgency of the matter is to avoid stalling legislative activities in the state.
- An order to expedite the hearing process by setting a specific date for the hearing and reducing the response time for the defendants to file their counter affidavits and written addresses to seven days, with the plaintiff having three days to reply.
Political and Public Interest
The suit has sparked considerable controversy, especially within the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, where opinions are split on Obasa’s removal. The case’s outcome is seen as crucial for the smooth running of legislative activities in Lagos State, emphasizing the need for swift judicial intervention.
As the legal battle unfolds, the sealing of the Speaker’s office by security forces underscores the intense political and legal scrutiny surrounding the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly. This situation not only affects the immediate operations of the Assembly but also highlights broader issues of governance, legality, and political power dynamics within one of Nigeria’s most influential states.