Court nullifies Obasa’s removal as Lagos Speaker

The Lagos State High Court sitting in the Ikeja area of the state has nullified the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

The presiding judge, Justice Yetunde Pinheiro, nullified Obasa’s impeachment in a ruling on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

The judge nullified the proceedings and resolution of the Lagos State House of Assembly on January 13, 2025.

Justice Pinheiro held that the members of the House of Assembly erred in the removal of Obasa as speaker.

The judge further awarded N500,000 in damages for the unlawful and illegal removal of Obasa and for the psychological embarrassment caused to him.

Justice Pinheiro added that the plenary session which was held by the lawmakers in the absence of Obasa was invalid.

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She maintained that the session was convened without Obasa’s authority or a formal delegation of power, in violation of the House’s procedures.

Justice Pinheiro held that only the leaders of the House of Assembly have the authority to write to the Speaker to convene a meeting, and that the Chief Whip was not considered a leader for this purpose.

The judge noted that under Order 7 of the House Rules, there was a defined hierarchy, and Rule 30, which related to the authority of the Chief Whip, did not confer such powers on him.

Justice Pinheiro declared that all steps taken toward reconvening the meeting were invalid.

The judge said: “The defendant cannot validly remove the Speaker without complying with Order 2, Rule 9 of the Lagos State House of Assembly Rules.

“The purported sitting of the members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the purported removal of the claimant as Speaker, and the purported installation of the second defendant is illegal, null and void.”

The Star