Lagos Assembly in uproar as Obasa replaces legal team

Leadership tensions in the Lagos State House of Assembly intensified on Monday when reinstated Speaker Mudashiru Obasa unilaterally switched the Assembly’s legal representation in court.

This decision sparked anger among the 35 lawmakers who had previously voted for his impeachment.

At the Ikeja High Court, Justice Yetunde Pinheiro postponed proceedings to March 17 following the parties’ new applications. Obasa’s lawsuit challenges his January 13, 2025 removal—which was based on allegations of fraud, authoritarianism, abuse of power, and gross misconduct.

Outside the courtroom, Obasa’s lead attorney, Afolabi Fasanu (SAN), explained that the recent filings were a reaction to assertions made the previous Friday, particularly concerning whether Obasa was in the country at the time of his impeachment. “We have provided evidence,” Fasanu stated.

The controversy deepened when Obasa replaced the Assembly’s legal team without consulting the majority of lawmakers. Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana (SAN), representing the 35 dissenting lawmakers, condemned the move as illegal. “It is not in the law that a plaintiff can impose a lawyer on the defendants. The 35 lawmakers have chosen our team, and we are carrying out their instructions,” Falana argued.

This legal battle is part of an ongoing power struggle within the Lagos Assembly. Obasa was ousted as Speaker in January and replaced by then-Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda, who resigned on March 3, clearing the way for Obasa’s contentious reinstatement. All eyes are now on the next court hearing on March 17, where the legality of Obasa’s impeachment and subsequent reinstatement will be further examined.