The ongoing power struggle within the Lagos State House of Assembly has taken a dramatic turn as the case concerning the impeachment of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa continues to unfold in court. Thirty-six lawmakers, in a strong counterclaim, have insisted that Obasa’s removal from office was constitutional, a move that has sparked intense legal and political debates.
On Friday, March 7, 2025, the Ikeja High Court, presided over by Justice Yetunde Pinheiro, adjourned the case to March 10, 2025. Justice Pinheiro directed all involved parties to file and serve their legal processes ahead of the next hearing. The case is a continuation of the ongoing legal battle between Obasa and the lawmakers who claim to have removed him for alleged misconduct.
The leadership crisis within the Lagos State House of Assembly began on January 13, 2025, when Speaker Mudashiru Obasa was impeached by a majority of lawmakers. The allegations against him include fraud, abuse of office, high-handedness, and gross misconduct. This impeachment followed weeks of mounting pressure against the Speaker, with multiple calls for his removal due to accusations of financial mismanagement and autocratic leadership.
Obasa, who had served as Speaker for several years, immediately rejected the impeachment, arguing that the process had been unconstitutional and unfair. He filed a suit at the Ikeja High Court, seeking to challenge the legality of his removal and secure a reinstatement to the position.
His legal team, led by renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Afolabi Fasanu, argues that the impeachment was flawed and violated Obasa’s right to a fair hearing. Fasanu stated that the claims made in the impeachment notice were still unaddressed and that the Speaker had not been given an adequate opportunity to defend himself.
In contrast, a group of 34 lawmakers, who played a crucial role in the impeachment, have fiercely defended the process. The lawmakers are seeking judicial affirmation of the impeachment, arguing that it was carried out in strict accordance with the 1999 Constitution and the rules of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
At the heart of the ongoing case is Section 92 of the 1999 Constitution, which governs the process of impeachment for any public officer, including the Speaker of a state House of Assembly. According to the legal team representing the 34 lawmakers, Obasa’s removal was in full compliance with the constitutional provisions. The lawmakers’ lead counsel, Romeo Ese-Michael, asserted that the Speaker’s impeachment was valid under the law and that any claim of wrongful removal was unfounded.
“Even if the claimant (Obasa) withdraws his suit due to his reinstatement, our counterclaim still stands,” Ese-Michael said, highlighting that the lawmakers were seeking a judicial confirmation of their actions. He went on to stress that the impeachment was done properly and according to the rules of the House, which is the prerogative of the lawmakers.
