Court extends hearing of application challenging Obasa removal as Lagos speaker

Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of a Lagos High Court has extended the hearing of the suit filed by the reinstated Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa to March 17, 2025

The judge also ordered that hearing of all applications and processes before the court would be taken together.

Obasa is challenging the allegations that led to his initial removal as speaker, which included fraud, high-handedness, abuse of office, and gross misconduct.

He filed the suit against the members of the state assembly and former speaker, Mojisola Meranda.

However, when the case came up for hearing yesterday, lead counsel representing the House of Assembly, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), informed the court that Obasa lead counsel, Mr Afolabi Fasanu (SAN), has served further affidavits on him yesterday, Monday March 10.

“The claimant’s counsel served us further affidavits, challenging my clients to have reaction.”

Meranda’s lead counsel, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) also told the court that the further processes Falana referred to entailed serious fraud allegations against his client and therefore required to file response.

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“There are serious fraud allegations in the further affidavits my learned brother referred to. We shall be asking for an adjournment to respond to the new application.”

Olusola Idowu (SAN), the incoming counsel to represent the House of Assembly in the case, announced his appearance, and Falana, however, urged the court to hear the application on the change of counsel.

Falana argued that the Court of Appeal decision mandated a trial court to hear an application for change of counsel before any other applications were entertained.

His submission, however, made the judge to say that the hearing of all applications and processes before the court would be taken at once.

The judge ordered all parties to file, serve, and exchange processes before the next adjourned date.

She noted that all applications including those seeking injunction and those challenging jurisdiction will be heard on the next adjourn date

“The application concerning the change of counsel will also be heard at the same time and also the counter. This case stand adjourned to March 17,2025 for the hearing of the various applications filed by the parties.”