The Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Monday adjourned to March 17, 2025, hearing in 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 Lagos State House of Assembly and former speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
At the resumption of proceedings on Monday, Lead Counsel for the House of Assembly, Femi Falana (SAN) told Justice Yetunde Pinheiro that Obasa’s Lead Counsel, Afolabi Fasanu (SAN) had served fresh court papers on his clients which necessitated his reaction.
“The claimant’s counsel served us further affidavits today, challenging my clients to have a reaction,” Falana said.
Meranda’s Lead Counsel, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), also told the court that the further processes Falana referred to entailed 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.
After this, Falana asked the court to hear the application on the change of counsel.
He argued that a Court of Appeal decision has mandated a trial court to hear applications for change of counsel before any other applications are entertained.
Justice Yetunde Pinheiro, however, said that the hearing of all applications and processes before the court would be taken at once.
The judge 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 concerning the change of counsel will also be heard at the same time on Monday,” she said.
