Ex-Speaker Obasa Demands N1billion In Damages, Says Impeachment Caused Him Trauma
The embattled former Speaker in the suit filed through his legal team led by Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), said that his impeachment as the Speaker of the House has caused him psychological trauma and embarrassment.
The impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has demanded the sum of N1 billion in damages over his removal by 35 members of the House.
Obasa made the demand in a suit dated February 12, 2025, he filed before Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja.
The embattled former Speaker in the suit filed through his legal team led by Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), said that his impeachment as the Speaker of the House has caused him psychological trauma and embarrassment.
He said that his impeachment was a gross violation of the extant rules and standing order of the House and in breach of his constitutional right to fair hearing.
Obasa was removed from office on January 13, 2025, over allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of power.
His impeachment led to the election of Mojisola Meranda as the Speaker of the House.
The defendants in the suit include Speaker Meranda, and the House of Assembly itself, while the court on Friday ordered that all the House of Assembly members be joined in the suit.
Obasa in the suit prayed the court for a declaration that having regards to the provisions of Sections 90, 91, 92 and 101 of the t 999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), his removal is illegal, unlawful, ultra vires and unconstitutional.
The suit further prayed the court for, “A declaration that by the provisions of Section 36 (1)(2)(a)&(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Order II Rules 9 (i)- (v iii) of the Rules and Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the purported removal of the Claimant as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly is unlawful and a nullity.
“An Order setting aside the purported sitting and proceedings of the 1st Defendant (House of Assembly) on I 3th January, 2025 and the resolutions or decisions by whatever description ascribed to such, including the purported removal of the Claimant as the Speaker and the purported installation of the 2nd Defendant (Meranda) as the Speaker of the 1st Defendant.
“An Order compelling the immediate reinstatement of the Claimant as the Honourable Speaker of the 1st Defendant.
“An Order of perpetual injunction restraining the 2nd Defendants from parading or further parading herself as the Speaker of the 1st Defendant, Lagos State House of Assembly.
“An Order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st Defendants whether by themselves or their privies or anybody however acting through them or on their instruction from interfering with or disturbing the Claimant from discharging his constitutional roles and duties as the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
“General Damages in the sum of N1,000,000,000 (One Billion Naira only) for the wrongful, illegal and unconstitutional removal of the Claimant as the Speaker of the 1st Defendant and consequent psychological trauma and embarrassment which the purported removal has placed on the Claimant as a result of the pressure of the people of Agege 1 Constituency of Lagos State on him.”
On Friday during the first proceedings of the case, Justice Pinheiro ruled that all pending applications would be heard on March 7.
The court also approved a request from some lawmakers to join the suit.
However, Obasa was absent from court, and his lawyers declined to speak to journalists after the proceedings.
