The court also awarded N500,000 as damages for unlawful and illegal removal of Mr Obasa.
In a landmark ruling that has sent ripples through Lagos political circles, the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has declared the controversial impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, as illegal, unconstitutional, and procedurally flawed.
The judgment, delivered on Wednesday, April 16, by Justice Yetunde Pinheiro, effectively restores Mr. Obasa’s position and nullifies all proceedings and resolutions made by the House on January 13, 2025 — the day he was ousted amid allegations of corruption during a trip to the United States.
Following his impeachment, Obasa challenged both his removal and the appointment of Mojisola Meranda as his successor. In a decisive legal victory, the court ruled that the process leading to his impeachment failed to meet constitutional standards.
Justice Pinheiro faulted the lawmakers for reconvening the House while it was under indefinite adjournment and noted that such action — taken while the Speaker was out of the country — contravened the Assembly’s internal rules and the Constitution.
The court emphasized that only recognized leaders of the House have the authority to summon a sitting, not the Chief Whip or other members outside the leadership cadre. “A court of law can intervene where the provisions of the Constitution have not been met during any proceedings of the House of Assembly,” Pinheiro said.
In making her case, she referenced precedents including Usman v Kaduna State House of Assembly, Agbaso v Imo State, and Rivers State House of Assembly v Government of Rivers State, reinforcing the judiciary’s power to intervene where legislative misconduct or constitutional ambiguity occurs.
Beyond declaring the impeachment void, the court awarded Obasa ₦500,000 in damages for what it described as the psychological distress and reputational harm he endured.
Furthermore, the court ordered the expungement of Ms. Mojisola Meranda’s name from the official record of former speakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Ms. Meranda’s short-lived tenure — lasting less than two months — came to an end after she was reportedly pressured by President Bola Tinubu to relinquish the role.
This judgment not only reinstates Obasa’s position but also redefines the boundaries of legislative authority in Lagos State. Legal observers say the ruling reinforces the supremacy of the Constitution over internal legislative maneuvering, especially when due process is ignored.
As the dust settles, all eyes are now on the Lagos Assembly to see how it responds — and whether the emboldened Speaker will use his reinstatement as an opportunity for reconciliation or retribution. Only time shall tell.
