In the early hours of Monday, operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly, sealing off the offices of Speaker Mojisola Meranda, her deputy, and the clerk of the house. The security agencies took control of the premises located at Alausa, Ikeja, and were seen frisking passersby as part of their operation.
By 10 am, the heavy security presence remained in place, with armed personnel ensuring tight security around the area. Speaker Meranda, however, arrived at the House later, at approximately 11:15 am, with her convoy.
This incident comes amid the ongoing legal dispute between the former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, and the state lawmakers. Obasa has filed a suit challenging his removal from office, which he claims was illegal. The former Speaker, who was in the United States at the time of his ousting on January 13, 2025, has described his removal as a “coup.” President Bola Tinubu has also weighed in on the matter, contributing to the controversy surrounding the move.
Obasa has filed a motion at the Ikeja Division of the State High Court, seeking an expedited hearing of the case. His legal team, led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, is challenging the legality of the Assembly’s decision to remove him and is asking the court for several reliefs, including a ruling for an accelerated hearing.
Obasa’s suit, filed on February 12, 2025, names the Lagos State House of Assembly and the current Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, as defendants. The legal challenge centers on various sections of the Nigerian Constitution, as well as the rules governing the Lagos State House of Assembly. The suit questions the constitutionality of the sitting and proceedings during the Assembly’s January 13, 2025, session, where Obasa was removed without being present.
The case further argues that the sitting violated legislative rules, as the Speaker did not reconvene the House nor delegate someone else to do so. Obasa’s application also demands that the case be heard quickly to avoid further disruptions to the state’s legislative process. He contends that neither party will suffer prejudice if the court grants an accelerated hearing and abridges the time for filing responses.
This legal dispute has created a divide within the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) decision-making body in Lagos, with members split over the legitimacy of Obasa’s removal.
