The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has hailed the court ruling that overturned his removal as Speaker, describing it as “illegal, unconstitutional and null and void.”
Obasa expressed this in a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday shortly after Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, delivered the judgement.
The court ruled that his removal during an official trip to the United States had no legal standing and also voided all proceedings and resolutions made by the Assembly on January 13—the day the removal took place.
Reacting to the judgement, Obasa said the ruling would pave the way for renewed unity among members of the Assembly.
“This is a victory for the Lagos State House of Assembly as an institution, and for both present and future members,” he said.
“The court’s decision today further strengthens our resolve to advance together in unity as lawmakers. We remain committed to working in harmony, for the benefit of our constituents, Lagos State, and Nigeria as a whole.”
He urged his colleagues to set aside the events of the past and embrace peace and collaboration for the greater good.
Obasa had filed the suit on February 12 through his counsel, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), challenging the legality of his removal while the Assembly was on recess and he was away on official assignment.
He argued that the session used to remove him was unauthorised and lacked a proper delegation of power from the Speaker’s office. The House of Assembly and Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda were named as defendants in the suit.
The ruling voids all actions taken during the controversial session.