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Tag: Obasa

  • APC aspirant withdraws from LG chairmanship race for Obasa’s son [See Reason]

    APC aspirant withdraws from LG chairmanship race for Obasa’s son [See Reason]

    Mr Oluwagbenga Abiola, Vice Chairman of Agege Local Government and a leading aspirant in the July 12 council election, withdrawn his interest to vie for the chairmanship position.

    He expressed satisfaction with the choice of Abdulganiyu Obasa as the APC’s flagbearer in the upcoming local government poll.

    Abiola is a political protégé of Mr Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and APC leader in Agege.

    Speaking to NAN on Wednesday in Lagos, Abiola affirmed his loyalty to the party and to Speaker Obasa.

    Recall that on Monday, Agege stakeholders urged Obasa to allow his son, Abdulganiyu, contest the council chairmanship.

    According to them, this would reward the Speaker’s years of humanitarian service and political impact in Agege.

    Reacting to claims that he faced pressure to withdraw, Abiola said he remained deeply grateful to Obasa for shaping his political journey.

    He pledged total support for the Speaker’s leadership and said he would never oppose the party’s direction or Obasa’s guidance.

    Abiola stated: “Let me make it clear — I will never go against my leader, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.

    “This is the man who made me. He appointed me Special Assistant on Media when he became Speaker in 2015.

    “In 2016, I was appointed Sole Administrator of Agege LG, thanks to his recommendation to the governor.

    “That appointment made me the youngest council boss in Lagos State at the time.

    “In 2017, I became Secretary to the Local Government, and in 2021, Vice Chairman — all through the party’s and Speaker’s support.

    “So tell me, why would I oppose a man who built me politically and helped me grow in experience and influence?”

    He admitted his ambition to become Chairman, but insisted he must submit to the party’s collective decision.

    “Yes, I aspired. Every Vice Chairman dreams of becoming Chairman. But the party has spoken, and I fully agree.

    “Leaders and stakeholders have united. They’ve asked the Speaker to allow his son contest. I respect and support that.

    “I stand with Obasa, with APC Agege, and with all decisions taken by the party and stakeholders,” he added.

    Abiola noted that service to people was his true goal and believed more opportunities would come in the future.

    “I trust my leader. He knows what’s best and can recommend me for even greater responsibilities when the time is right.

    “I’m still young and full of energy. I’ll work for the party and ensure we achieve victory,” he said.

    He added that he had instructed members of his Obasa Youth Alliance (OYA) to fully support the party’s decision.

  • ‘Wahala’ loading as group kicks against Obasa’s move to impose son as LG chairman

    ‘Wahala’ loading as group kicks against Obasa’s move to impose son as LG chairman

     

    A group within the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos State has warned that there would be crisis in the party if the reinstated Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, imposed his son, AbdulGaniyu Obasa, as the next chairman of Agege Local Government.

    The pressure group, known as Concerned Citizens of Agege, in an open letter, stated that the people of Agege and Orile Agege could no longer keep quiet and watch as Obasa was bent on imposing his son on the party in the forthcoming local government election.

    The group noted that while the son had the right to run for office, he should not be imposed on the people of Agege by Obasa.

    ‘There should be free and fair primaries where the people of Agege will pick who should be their candidate’

    The group stated that they could not serve Obasa for over a decade and at the same time serve his son, whom many described as ‘a political lightweight’ on the people of Agege Local Government.

    The good people of Agege and Orile Agege are no longer silent. We have endured decades of underperformance, political manipulation and failed promises from the father. Since his arrival in office, not a single meaningful empowerment programme has been delivered to the people.

    “Year after year, he collects constituency allowances meant for the development and uplift of our communities, yet we see no trace of impact, no real empowerment, and no benefit to the people who trusted him with their votes.

    “We say NO to father and son. Public office is not a family heritage. Agege is not an empire to be inherited. The people deserve capable, proven personalities, not political heirs who has never been involved in grassroots politics, never attended ward or LG meetings, and whose name is completely unknown to the political base.

    To make matters worse, the father is also trying to impose another candidate in Orile Agege. Again, we say NO. The people of Orile Agege are not blind. We see through the games and reject this recycled leadership.

    “This is not democracy. This is a hijack of power. It is an insult to loyal party members and a betrayal of trust. This desperate political imposition is dead on arrival. Agege and Orile Agege deserve better, leaders who are qualified, present, and committed to true service. The era of being fooled is over. Let the voice of the people be louder than money, louder than manipulation, and louder than fear.”

  • Court reserves judgment on Lagos assembly speakership tussle

    Court reserves judgment on Lagos assembly speakership tussle

    Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the Ikeja High Court  has reserved judgment in the suit filed  by the reinstated speaker of the House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa.

    Obasa is challenging the legality of his initial removal as speaker.

    The NA reports that Pinheiro reserved the judgment after hearing  not less than 15 preliminary applications from the respondents.

    The judge said that the date to deliver the judgment would be communicated to the parties in due course.

    The respondents in the suit are some members of the state assembly and former speaker, Mojisola Meranda.

    Obasa is challenging the allegations that led to his initial removal as speaker, including fraud, high-handedness, abuse of office, and gross misconduct.

    At the commencement of hearing on Monday, Prof. Joshua Olatoke (SAN) who represented Obasa, urged the court to assume jurisdiction to hear the matter.

    He argued that the house was on recess at the time the lawmakers convened on Jan. 13 without properly notifying either the speaker or the majority leader, who had the authority to reconvene any session during the recess.

    While arguing whether the proceedings of Jan. 13 was constitutional, he said, “The mere return of the speaker have not been resolved, we need the court to fully determine that.

    “We contend  the proceedings of Jan. 13 as it deals with the constitutionality of that plenary.

    “We also seek that the court nullifies that proceedings because it was not constitutional”.

    Mr Femi Falana (SAN), whose legal authority to represent the state assembly was earlier affirmed by the court, opposed the suit brought by way of originating summons.

    Falana argued that the proceedings of March 3, which saw the re-election of Obasa as speaker, had overtaken the earlier proceedings.

    In the preliminary objections of the first respondent, Falana, argued that the speaker’s action should be dismissed by the court.

    He said it was instituted without a pre-action notice known to law.

    The learned silk also contended that the house had the right to appoint and remove the speaker and other  principal officers of the house without court’s interference.

    “By virtue of Obasa’s re-election as speaker, and Meranda being restored to her previous position as the deputy speaker, this case has become academic,” he added.

    Counsel representing the third to the 35th respondents, Mr Olu Daramola (SAN), also argued that the removal of the speaker was an internal affair of the house, which the courts should not interfere in.

    Daramola added that the proceedings of Jan. 13 were valid, having been held in the assembly.

    He said that the decision to remove the speaker was made by more than the constitutional requirement of a two-third majority of the members.

    Mr Clement Onwuenwunor (SAN), the counsel representing the 36th to the 40th respondents, said the Jan. 13 sitting was done in clear violation of the rules governing the state assembly.

    Onwuenwunor said the rule empowered the court to assume jurisdiction to hear the case.

    Counsel representing Meranda, Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu (SAN), said that the suit should be dismissed.

    She argued that the speaker’s re-election and subsequent lawsuit against the state assembly, constituted an abuse of judicial process.

    Recall that Obasa was impeached on Jan. 13, following allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office, and the deputy was elected as his successor.

    However, on March 3, Obasa was reinstated as the speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly.

    NAN also recalls that Obasa returned as the speaker, following Meranda’s resignation.

  • Lagos Assembly crisis: Tinubu meets Obasa, Meranda at Aso Villa

    Lagos Assembly crisis: Tinubu meets Obasa, Meranda at Aso Villa

    Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have arrived the State House, Abuja, to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    According to The Nation, the legislators who arrived in two coaster buses had been allowed into the President’s office area to wait for the meeting.

    Both the reinstated Speaker of the Assembly, Hon Mudashiru Obasa, and the ousted one, Hon Mojisola Miranda, were also sighted in the team.

    While Meranda arrived with her colleagues at some minutes past 2pm, Obasa arrived separately at about 2:50pm.

    The meeting may not be unconnected with the recent leadership crisis in the State House of Assembly.

    It would be recalled that Hon. Obasa was impeached as Speaker by a majority of his colleagues, but he was latter reinstated after the intervention of the political leaders especially the Governor’s Advisory Council, (GAC)

    Despite the Speaker’s reinstatement, it was gathered that the bad blood as a result of his impeachment is yet to be over.

  • Court extends hearing to March 17 as Obasa files additional affidavits

    Court extends hearing to March 17 as Obasa files additional affidavits

    An Ikeja High Court on Monday extended the hearing of the suit filed by the reinstated Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, until March 17.

    Obasa is challenging the allegations that led to his initial removal as speaker, which include fraud, high-handedness, abuse of office, and gross misconduct.

    The respondents in the suit are members of the state assembly and former speaker, Mojisola Meranda.

    At the resumed hearing on Monday, Lead Counsel for the House of Assembly, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), informed the court that Obasa Lead Counsel, Mr Afolabi Fasanu (SAN), had earlier in the day, served further him with affidavits.

    “The claimant’s counsel served us with additional affidavits today, requiring my clients to respond,” Falana said.

    Meranda’s lead counsel, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), also informed the court that the documents Falana referred to contained serious fraud allegations against his client.

    “There are serious fraud allegations in the further affidavits my learned brother referred to.

    “We shall be asking for an adjournment to respond to the new application,” Oyetibo said.

    NAN reports that Mr Olusola Idowu (SAN) also announced appearance as an incoming counsel, to represent the House of Assembly in the case.

    Falana thereafter prayed the court  to hear application on the change of counsel.

    Falana  argued  that Court of Appeal decision had mandated a trial court to hear application for change of counsel before any other applications could be entertained.

    Justice Yetunde Pinheiro, however, held that the hearing of all applications and processes before the court would be taken at once.

    Pinheiro ordered all parties to file, serve and exchange their processes before the next adjourned date.

    “All the applications will be taken at once.

    “All applications including those seeking injunction and those challenging jurisdiction will  be heard on March  17.

    “The application regarding the change of counsel will also be heard on Monday, along with the counterapplication,” she said.

    The court adjourned the case until March 17 for the hearing of various applications filed by the parties.

    Recall that Obasa was impeached on Jan. 13 over allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office, leading to the deputy speaker’s election as his replacement.

    However, on March 3, Obasa was reinstated as speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Obasa’s return followed Meranda’s resignation.

  • Obasa’s alleged wrongful removal suit hearing adjourned till March 10

    Obasa’s alleged wrongful removal suit hearing adjourned till March 10

    An Ikeja High Court on Friday extended until March 10 to hear the  suit filed by the reinstated Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa.

    Obasa is challenging the allegations that led to his initial removal as speaker, which included fraud, high-handedness, abuse of office, and gross misconduct.

    The respondents in the suit are members of the state assembly and former speaker, Mojisola Meranda.

    When the case was called on Friday, Justice Yetunde  Pinheiro, ordered all parties to file and serve their processes before the next adjourned date.

    She adjourned the case until  March 10 for the hearing of all applications, including Obasa’s originating summon.

    Earlier, Obasa’s lead counsel, Mr Afolabi Fasanu (SAN), informed the court that though the embattled speaker had been reinstated, the suit had not become an academic exercise.

    He argued that the claimant was not given a fair hearing.

    According to him, the speaker is now contending with the allegations in the notice of his removal.

    Mr Romeo Ese-Michael, counsel to the 34 lawmakers, said: “Even if the complainant withdraws his suit due to his re-election, our counterclaim still stands.

    “The lawmakers want the court to declare that the speaker’s removal was constitutional and was in tandem with Section 92 of the 1999 Constitution, rather than the rules guiding the Lagos State House of Assembly”.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Obasa was impeached on Jan. 13, following allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office, and the deputy was elected as his successor.

    However, on March 3, Obasa was reinstated as the speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly.

    NAN reports that Obasa returned as the speaker, following Meranda’s resignation.

  • BREAKING! Drama as Obasa is sworn-in as Speaker, Meranda becomes deputy

    BREAKING! Drama as Obasa is sworn-in as Speaker, Meranda becomes deputy

    The Lagos State House of Assembly political logjam took a fresh twist on Monday as the impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa reemerges as Speaker.

    TNG reports that Hon Mojisola Meranda who overthrew Obasa is now the deputy speaker.

    Details shortly….

  • Lagos Assembly directs staff to work remotely

    Lagos Assembly directs staff to work remotely

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has directed all staff and legislative aides to work remotely indefinitely, to prevent potential violence from the ongoing leadership crisis.

    The directive, issued by Acting Clerk, Mr Babatunde Ottun, was communicated in a memo to all staff in Lagos on Sunday.

    The memo is titled ‘Amendment to Remote Work Schedule Arrangement’.

    The crisis began after 32 lawmakers removed Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and ex-Clerk Olalekan Onafeko in January.

    Obasa was replaced by his former deputy, Mojisola Meranda, as the new Speaker.

    The crisis intensified on Feb. 17 when DSS operatives sealed off the Assembly complex, preventing a plenary session.

    In spite of this, lawmakers forced their way into the chambers, held a session, and adjourned indefinitely, declaring a vote of confidence in Meranda.

    Meanwhile, three Assembly staff members face trial for allegedly assaulting DSS operatives during the standoff.

    Obasa rejected his removal as unconstitutional. On Feb. 27, he stormed the Assembly complex with heavy security, allegedly breaking into the Speaker’s office.

    He resumed duties, and his supporters also besieged the Assembly, demanding his reinstatement.

    Obasa has filed a lawsuit against Meranda, the Assembly, and 36 lawmakers, challenging his removal. The Ikeja Court will hear the case on Friday.

    In spite of the ongoing crisis, Lagos State Head of Service, Bode Agoro, recognised the leadership change and urged staff to support the new Speaker and Acting Clerk.

    Ottun explained that the directive aims to ensure staff safety and prevent a breakdown of law and order.

    He said, “This directive is necessary pending the resolution of the leadership dispute.

    “All staff at the Assembly, LAHASCOM, and Legislative Aides are requested to work remotely until further notice.”

    Ottun assured staff of Speaker Meranda’s commitment to their safety and a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

    NAN

  • Obasa’s plenary with 4 lawmakers a ‘show of shame’ – Meranda

    Obasa’s plenary with 4 lawmakers a ‘show of shame’ – Meranda

    The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, has described the impeached speaker, Mudashiru Obasa’s plenary with four lawmakers and the disruption of the assembly as a ‘show of shame’.

    Speaking to journalists after the court hearing at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, on Friday, Meranda said that a quorum in the Assembly required more members.

    Recall Obasa and his security details stormed the assembly complex on Thursday and entered the Speaker’s Office.

    Obasa also presided over a four-man member after he took the Lagos Assembly and the speaker to court over what he termed as “unlawful removal”.

    Meranda told journalists that plenary could only be held when they had numbers that formed a quorum, “so if Obasa was sitting with three or four members, then he was only doing theatre”.

    The speaker said that Obasa still held a seat in the Assembly and had the right to come, noting that his invasion to her office was unacceptable.

    According to her, I think he is still a member of the House of Assembly so he has every right to come but the invasion and breaking into my office, that is really a big one.

    Meranda emphasised that the legal battle was only beginning, and urged all parties to allow the legal teams to handle the matter.

    “This is actually just the beginning. Just like what happened in there, both parties have their representatives and I think we should allow the legal team to do their job,” she said.

    The speaker, who disclosed that her initially withdrawn security detail was restored, said it was a contrast to the usual level of protection she received.

    According to her, presently I have three or four policemen, whereas my normal security details are 12 policemen, four DSS, and two anti-bomb units. But I don’t have up to that presently.

    Meranda said the party leadership was taking their own steps in resolving the speakership tussle.

    She said: “We are definitely consulting with our leaders and all rightful things will be done at the right time. Let us assure the people of Lagos that we are still committed to our party.

    “We are still committed to our leadership and we are still committed to serving the people of Lagos state. That is what is more important.

    “I want to assure them that we are very law abiding and we are doing everything within our power just to make sure that we don’t take it more than this level.”

    Obasa was sighted at the assembly complex on Friday with his team while the 35 members that were earlier at the assembly drove out of the premises.

    NAN reports that the legislative workers avoided the premises for fear of victimisation.

  • Court to hear Obasa’s alleged wrongful removal suit March 7

    Court to hear Obasa’s alleged wrongful removal suit March 7

    The ousted speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has brought several applications before an Ikeja High Court challenging his removal as speaker.

    The respondents in the suit are members of the state assembly and the current speaker, Mojisola Meranda.

    Recall that Obasa was impeached on Jan. 13, following allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office, and the deputy, Meranda, was elected as his successor.

    When the case was called on Friday, several Senior Advocates of Nigeria appeared for the plaintiff and the respondents.

    NAN reports that Mr Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), appeared for Obasa, while Mr Femi Falana (SAN), Mr Muiz Banire (SAN) and a team of other lawyers represented 34 lawmakers.

    Also, Mr Olu Daramola (SAN) and Mr Dada Awosika (SAN) represented other members of the house seeking to be joined in the suit.

    Equally, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) led Mrs Bimbo Akeredolu (SAN) and other lawyers to represent Meranda, the new speaker.

    NAN also reports that there was a mild drama over who would represent members of the state assembly.

    Falana initially announced his appearance for the assembly members but another counsel, Mr Abang Mkpandiok told the court he was also representing the assembly members.

    Mkpandiok said he was briefed on Thursday night by the assembly members and had filed a motion for  change of counsel in the morning.

    He said that the choice of counsel was a fundamental right and urged the court to take his application first.

    Falana, in his objection, told the court that he had not been served and remained the counsel on record for the assembly members.

    Oyetibo also confirmed to the court  that  he had not been served with the application.

    Mkpandiok then elected to serve the application in court.

    After looking through the court’s records, Justice Yetunde Pinheiro, stated that the application for change of counsel was not ripe for hearing.

    She held, “The application for accelerated hearing will not be taking today”.

    Pinheiro, in her short ruling, also ordered that all members of the Lagos House of Assembly be joined as parties in the suit.

    The judge adjourned until March 7 for hearing of the pending preliminary objections.

    According to reports, in an application dated Feb.12, Obasa had alleged that he was unlawfully removed from his position on Jan. 13 by 36 lawmakers, while he was abroad.

    Some members of the house who were not initially listed as defendants, filed their applications seeking to be joined as parties.