NewStats: 3,261,373 , 8,173,817 topics. Date: Thursday, 29 May 2025 at 03:38 AM 196p2g

The crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly appears far from over as Speaker Mudashiru Obasa remains adamant in pursuing his lawsuit against former Speaker Mojisola Meranda and other lawmakers, despite the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, SaharaReporters has learned.

A source close to the situation told SaharaReporters on Monday that confusion and concern are mounting among APC leaders in Lagos over Obasa’s refusal to withdraw the suit.

"The truth is that there is uncertainty among the party’s leadership regarding why the Speaker is still in court. Honestly, we don’t know why. After President Tinubu’s intervention and their meeting in Abuja, everything about the leadership crisis seemed to have been settled,” the source said.

The source further expressed frustration over the situation, highlighting that Meranda had already accepted the party’s resolution and stepped aside.

If you know Meranda very well, you will see that she is an easygoing person, not someone who wants the speakership ‘do or die.’ Since the leaders told her to step down in the interest of the party, she relinquished her ambition and did not pursue it further. This is why we don’t know what Obasa wants from the court again. But everyone is observing the situation,” the source added.

Obasa’s counsel, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), has, however, dismissed speculations that his client is considering withdrawing the case.

Speaking to The PUNCH on Sunday, Fashanu confirmed that his team is awaiting judgment from the Lagos State High Court, where the case is being heard.

“We are just waiting for the judgment. We don’t know when yet; the court said they will communicate it to us,” Fashanu stated.

When pressed on whether Obasa was reconsidering his decision, Fashanu responded firmly: “We have concluded. You’re twisting the hand of the clock back. We have concluded arguments; that one does not arise again. He’s not withdrawing, we have concluded.”

This stance contradicts expectations following Tinubu’s intervention, which was widely believed to have resolved the ime and facilitated Obasa’s return as Speaker.

Despite Obasa’s legal team’s insistence, Otunba Henry Ajomale, former chairman of the Lagos APC and a member of the party’s influential Governance Advisory Council (GAC), expressed confidence that the lawsuit would soon be dropped.

“Very soon, (at) the next sitting, you will see the difference,” Ajomale told journalists during an event in Lagos over the weekend.

“Somebody is aggrieved, and he went to court. It is his right to go to court. And it is now our own duty, since Mr. President intervened and rightly too because this is his own making,” he said.

“He will not allow it to create a bitter problem. And that is why he had to intervene. Everything is back to normal now.”

Ajomale assured that now that Obasa has been reinstated as Speaker, the lawsuit would be withdrawn promptly.

“Perhaps at the next sitting, you will see the difference,” he added.

Obasa’s legal battle stems from the leadership crisis that led to his ouster on January 13, 2025, paving the way for Meranda to become the first female Speaker of the House.

However, his removal triggered intense political manoeuvring, and after 49 days, he was reinstated following the intervention of APC’s national leadership and President Tinubu.

The 40 lawmakers met with Tinubu in Abuja on March 12, where he reportedly brokered peace between Obasa and Meranda. Yet, the Assembly has remained inactive, failing to reconvene since March 3, which has raised concerns over a legislative standstill in Lagos.

https://saharareporters.com/2025/03/31/obasa-defies-tinubus-intervention-pushes-lawsuit-against-meranda-other-lagos-lawmakers

Obasa is the defacto governor of Lagos now

Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has been disrespectful to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and House .

his Agege alone cannot make him Gov. of Lagos State .

Baba Tinubu causing problems everywhere with one-sided settlement

Enwhen:


Hon. Mudashiri Obasa has been disrespectful to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu , House .

his Agege alone cannot make him Gov. of Lagos State .

Baba Tinubu causing problems everywhere with one-sided settlement

How did Tinubu get involved in this?

As it stands now, there is no govt in Lagos state
Tinubu should declare state of emergency in Lagos state to avert this political crisis

Yet, the Assembly has remained inactive, failing to reconvene since March 3, which has raised concerns over a legislative standstill in Lagos.

JASONjnr:


How did Tinubu get involved in this?

Is it not Baba Tinubu that caution the house to allow Obasa be ? , the house told Hon. Meranda to step down in order to honour Baba Tinubu directive(Baba sope). Same Obasa is still pushing in court questioning his impeachment despite the fact that the house has asked Hon. Meranda to step down and voted Obasa back as speaker... That's Arrogant backed by the president...same thing the president did in rivers , tackling Fubara and allow Wike to misbehave and push in court...
Hon. Mudashiru behaves as if he gave birth to Gov. Sanwo-Olu, even if you don't respect the person , respect the office of the Lagos State Gov. and govt. ... That's Arrogant

Enwhen:


Hon. Mudashiri Obasa has been disrespectful to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu , House .

his Agege alone cannot make him Gov. of Lagos State .

Baba Tinubu causing problems everywhere with one-sided settlement

The builder of Lagos.

iwaeda:


The builder of Lagos.

The day that Baba leaves this earth , the day people would see the damages he cause in Lagos State .

Baba sope politics

Lol
2027 will be mad fun

The fall of obasa

tollyboy5:
The fall of obasa

You took it out of my mouth. Won fi enyan je lemamu, otun du seriki.

It is actually better for all concerned, and for Nigeria's legal jurisprudence for a case like this to be heard and decided by the courts.

Same with PDP going to court on the State of Emergency in Rivers State.

These are good cases for the courts.

We need Judicial precedents in both cases for us to know how these matters should be resolved in the future.

As for the Lagos Assembly case, it makes strategic legal sense for the speaker not to withdraw the case. In some ways, the continuation of the case acts as a form of protection from another impeachment. If he withdraws the case, the house may seek to impeach him again. That's the nature of politics.

Even if the decision at the Lagos High court goes against him, the speaker will have an opportunity to appeal. By the time appeals are concluded, he would be close to completing his term. The appeals may not even be concluded until after he finishes his term.

DeLaRue:
It is actually better for all concerned, and for Nigeria's legal jurisprudence for a case like this to be heard and decided by the courts.

Same with PDP going to court on the State of Emergency in Rivers State.

These are good cases for the courts.

We need Judicial precedents in both cases for us to know how these matters should be resolved in the future.

As for the Lagos Assembly case, it is makes strategic legal sense for the speaker not to withdraw the case. In some ways, the continuation of the case acts as a form of protection from another impeachment. If he withdraws the case, the house may seek to impeach him again - this is politics.

Even if the decision at the Lagos High court goes against him, the speaker will have an opportunity to appeal. By the time appeals are concluded, he will be close to completing his term. The appeals may not even be concluded until after he finishes his term.

He's breaking the deal by still going ahead with the court case. Meranda stepped down for him and he's suppose to withdraw the case.

Ikaeniyan0:
He's breaking the deal by still going ahead with the court case. Meranda stepped down for him and he's suppose to withdraw the case.

I understand that, but I'm more interested in the legal precedents that the courts will set on the Lagos and Rivers issues.

Those precedents will clarify certain aspects of the governance of this country.

That is more important to me.

Nlfpmod, cwas he not meant yo resign for somebody from Lagos West

Why can’t Tinubu declare state of emergency on them. Dey play

Good

Egungun becareful na Express you go ooo.

Abeg, who go sponsor my Canada trip?

Family matter

Let see how it goes.

We'll be here to see who laughs last.

Na lie, he is playing Tinubu's script

He's not defying Tiffnubu. He's working alongside Tiffnubu.

All the comments above me. Have no idea who Tinubu is?

I guess you're not a student of history or rather just a headliner like normal.

Obasa is on the path to end of his political career. They set him up to fail and he is doing that well to himself.

I don't see Sanwoolu completing his second term. Just wait and see.

If Obasa is smart, he should have resigned jeje. I hope he sees this and do just that.

papyjaypaul:
I don't see Sanwoolu completing his second term. Just wait and see.

dey play

kowriesng:
All the comments above me. Have no idea who Tinubu is?

I guess you're not a student of history or rather just a headliner like normal.

Obasa is on the path to end of his political career. They set him up to fail and he is doing that well to himself.

Don't be deceived. The person backing him is the person you think he is challenging. Politicians don't show all their hands.

nairavsdollars:
Obasa is the defacto governor of Lagos now

No sane person takes you people especially from that backward region serious.

Is Wike no longer in ?
Is Buhari aka El Jubril still alive?

Confused set of people

Nor go find work

Squere:
Obasa should withdraw the case pls.

Sincerely the hardship is something else now, can someone kindly assist me with something. Pls 🙏

papyjaypaul:
I don't see Sanwoolu completing his second term. Just wait and see.

Have you ever seen anything good about others?

Noisemaker and busybody