Despite President Bola Tinubu’s intervention to resolve the leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa has refused to withdraw his lawsuit against former Speaker Mojisola Meranda and other lawmakers.
Obasa’s lawyer, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), confirmed on Sunday that the case would proceed, dismissing speculations that his client would drop the suit.
In a telephone interview, Fashanu said, “We are just waiting for the judgment. We don’t know when yet, the court said they will communicate it to us.”
When asked whether Obasa was still considering withdrawing the case, Fashanu was firm in his response. “We have concluded. You’re twisting the hand of the clock back. We have concluded arguments; that one does not arise again. He’s not withdrawing, we have concluded,” he stated.
Judgment Awaited on Leadership Crisis
The case, which challenges the legality of the January 13, 2025, proceedings that led to Obasa’s removal as Speaker, is before Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court. The judge reserved judgment on March 17 after hearing arguments from all parties.
Meanwhile, an influential member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, Otunba Henry Ajomale, expressed optimism that Obasa would eventually withdraw the suit following Tinubu’s intervention.
“Very soon, (at) the next sitting, you will see the difference,” Ajomale told journalists at an event in Lagos on Saturday.
“Somebody is aggrieved and he went to court. It is his right to go to court. And it is now our own duty, since Mr. President intervened, to make sure everything returns to normal. Now that he (Obasa) has been returned, I believe that the case will be withdrawn from court,” he added.
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Lagos Assembly in Limbo
Following the crisis, Obasa adjourned plenary indefinitely on March 3, the same day he was reinstated as Speaker after Meranda resigned.
Meranda, who served as the first female Speaker of the Lagos Assembly for 49 days, faced a turbulent tenure, as Obasa continued to challenge his removal. The APC’s national leadership eventually stepped in to mediate, leading to his return.
On March 12, all 40 lawmakers met with President Tinubu in Abuja, where the President brokered peace between Obasa and Meranda. However, despite the meeting, the Assembly has not reconvened since March 3, effectively putting legislative activities on hold.
When asked when plenary would resume, the Clerk of the House, Ottun Babatunde, suggested that sittings might restart after the Sallah break.
“We adjourned sine die (indefinitely), but (we will) likely (resume) after Sallah by God’s grace,” Babatunde told journalists.
On what would be the focus upon resumption, he said, “We will resume our work. Our normal duty is what we are (going to be) doing.” He also confirmed that committee activities were ongoing despite the recess.
“In fact, the committee activities are ongoing. It was only plenary that we suspended, and we went on recess,” he explained.
Meanwhile, sources close to Obasa revealed that the Speaker was currently out of the country on a pilgrimage to Mecca.