SNOOP COMMUNICATIONS

 Lagos Assembly Crisis: 

Why Obasa Won’t Withdraw Lawsuit Against Lawmakers

Despite the intervention of the president, the leadership crisis bedeviling the Lagos State House of Assembly is far from being resolved as combatants in the crisis are back in their trenches as lack of trust has undermined the peace efforts.

At the height of the crisis, Presided Bola Ahmed Tinubu had waded in on the matter in what many thought would bring an end to the crisis. The president in a peace meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja had ordered the immediate reinstatement of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the House while Mojisola Meranda returns to her position as Deputy Speaker. This was after the president had reportedly scolded the embattled speaker for the various infractions levelled against him by his colleagues.

The president nevertheless ordered Obasa to withdraw the court case he instituted against the lawmakers over his impeachment even as he enjoined the lawmakers to cooperate with the speaker for peace to reign.

However, while Obasa has since returned to his position as Speaker of the House, he is yet to withdraw the lawsuit as instructed by the president almost two weeks ago after Tinubu’s intervention sparking fears of the elongation of the crisis.

On his return to the saddled, Obasa had adjourned plenary indefinitely even as he commended his colleagues for embracing peace, there are, however, reports of secret meetings by the 36 opposing lawmakers aimed at orchestrating plots to stay ahead of the speaker in this intense game of wits.

In a bid to douse tension in the house and promote a robust and cordial relationship, the embattled speaker was said initiated peace meetings with the lawmakers individually and collectively all to no avail. He was said to have been rebuffed by the lawmakers.

This development, according to a source in the speaker’s office is the reason why the speaker has refused to withdraw the court case he instituted against the lawmakers over his impeachment.  

Obasa is challenging is impeachment by the 36 lawmakers at the Lagos High Court. His counsel, Afolabi Fasanu, (SAN), argued that despite Obasa’s re-election, the lawsuit remains relevant.

He maintained that the Speaker is contesting the allegations in the removal notice—ranging from fraud and high-handedness to abuse of office and gross misconduct—on the grounds that he was denied a fair hearing.

Obasa filed the suit (ID/9047GCM/2025) contesting the constitutionality of the Lagos State House of Assembly’s sitting and proceedings during a recess, which occurred without the Speaker reconvening the House or delegating authority.

The suit addresses the constitutionality of the Lagos State House of Assembly’s proceedings on January 13, 2025, when Obasa was allegedly impeached as Speaker.

Obasa’s application presents nine grounds, including interpretations of various sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), as well as the Rules and Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The claimant seeks the court’s interpretation of Sections 36, 90, 92(2)(c), 101, and 311 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), in relation to Order V, Rule 18(2), and Order II, Rule 9(1)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) of the Lagos State House of Assembly Rules, which have constitutional status.

“Obasa is pressing further with the case as an insurance back up in case the lawmakers attempt to impeach him again. He does not trust them either because he has made overtures to them individually and collectively without success. This means they are still adamant in their stance against him. So, for him, the lawsuit is ostensibly designed to protect him against any possible impeachment. Hence, he is not likely to withdraw the lawsuit,” the source volunteered.  

However, The Snoop gathered the opposing lawmakers reportedly accepted the Abuja Peace Deal out of respect for the president but not out of their conviction Obasa would turn a new leaf and let bygones be bygones. They were said to hold fervently to the belief that the speaker would come back to haunt them for their role in his earlier impeachment.

A source close to one of the lawmakers told our correspondent that the lawmakers have lost trust and confidence in the speaker as they believe his return as speaker holds no peace for them. “They are not comfortable with the presidential directive but they agreed out of respect for the president because they know Obasa would come back to haunt them. They know the peace deal is just a smokescreen because they do not trust him to keep his words and that’s why all of them have been avoiding him. They do not want him to sweet talk them into compromising on their collective stance against him,” says our source.