This came shortly after heavily armed operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian police stormed the complex to seal the offices of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and the Clerk of the House.
Lagos State House of Assembly’s leadership crisis took another turn on Monday following an invasion by the Department of State Services (DSS).
However, despite the tension, Mojisola Meranda presided over the legislative session on Monday, laying claim to her position as the Speaker.
This came shortly after heavily armed operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian police stormed the complex to seal the offices of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and the Clerk of the House.
The leadership crisis followed the recent removal of Mudashiru Obasa as the Assembly Speaker.
The security operatives took control of the assembly premises around 10 a.m. at Alausa, Ikeja.
In a video obtained, Mojisola Meranda was seen being cheered by a mammoth of supporters while walking towards the legislative chambers to preside over the session on Monday afternoon.
She was seen sitting at the front of the House to lead the plenary session.
The media had reported that Obasa, the impeached Speaker, already filed a motion at the Ikeja Division of the State High Court, seeking an accelerated hearing of his suit challenging his impeachment on January 13, 2025.
Obasa, who was impeached while outside the country, is challenging the legality of his removal from office.
The motion, filed on February 12, names the Lagos State House of Assembly and Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, the current Speaker of the House, as defendants.
Through his lawyers, led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, Obasa is seeking several reliefs, including:
“An order fixing a date for the expeditious hearing of the originating summons.
“AN order of this Honourable Court abridging the time within which the Defendants may file their response by way of counter affidavits/written addresses as specified by the Rules of this Honourable Court, to 7 days after the hearing and determination of this Application.
“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court abridging the time within which the Plaintiff/Applicant may file its Reply of points law, as specified in the Rules of this Honourable Court, to 3 days of the service of the Defendants processes on him.”
Obasa’s application is predicated on nine grounds, including the interpretation of various sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended), and the Rules and Standing Order of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
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