By Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has declared the impeachment of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa as illegal and unconstitutional. In her ruling on Wednesday, the judge also nullified all proceedings and resolutions passed by the House on January 13, 2025, during which Obasa was removed in absentia.
The judgment was delivered in a suit filed by Obasa against 36 lawmakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly. He had challenged the legality of his impeachment, along with the criminal allegations leveled against him, which he described as baseless.
Obasa, who filed the suit on February 12 through his legal counsel, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), claimed that his removal occurred while the Assembly was on recess and while he was out of the country. He insisted that the move was unconstitutional and driven by unfounded accusations of fraud, high-handedness, and misconduct.
Justice Pinheiro agreed with Obasa’s claims, stating that the lawmakers acted outside their constitutional powers. The judge upheld that proper procedures were not followed, making the entire impeachment process void.
Although the political crisis within the Assembly had since been resolved — with Obasa reinstated as Speaker and Mojisola Meranda reverting to her role as Deputy Speaker — the legal challenge continued in court. The judgement now cements Obasa’s return as Speaker from both a political and legal standpoint.
The ruling also serves as a reminder of the judiciary’s role in checking legislative excesses and upholding constitutional order, particularly in cases involving leadership tussles within government institutions.
