Court to Hear Obasa’s Case Against Meranda, Others on March 17

 Court to Hear Obasa’s Case Against Meranda, Others on March 17

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

Obasa is contesting his removal as Speaker on January 13, 2025, after 35 lawmakers accused him of fraud, high-handedness, abuse of office, and gross misconduct.

The respondents in the case include members of the Lagos State House of Assembly and former Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.

Initially scheduled for March 10, 2025, the hearing was postponed after the House of Assembly’s legal counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), informed the court that Obasa’s legal team, led by Afolabi Fasanu (SAN), had filed additional affidavits on the same day.

Counsel for Meranda, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), noted that the new affidavits contained serious fraud allegations against his client, prompting a request for more time to respond.

Additionally, Olusola Idowu (SAN) announced his entry as the new counsel representing the House of Assembly, with Falana urging the court to first consider the application for a change of counsel before addressing other matters.

In response, Justice Pinheiro ruled that all applications and legal processes would be heard together on March 17, 2025.

She further directed all parties to file, serve, and exchange their documents ahead of the next hearing.

Obasa was reinstated as Speaker following the intervention of the Lagos APC leadership, with Meranda stepping down and resuming her role as Deputy Speaker. However, his refusal to withdraw the lawsuit suggests lingering tensions among lawmakers.

In her resignation speech, Meranda emphasized that her decision was in respect for the party’s supremacy, not an act of cowardice. Many lawmakers, in an emotional session, also affirmed that their acceptance of Obasa’s return was out of deference to the party.