Obasa’s Suit Challenging Impeachment Adjourned till March 17
Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of an Ikeja High Court adjourned the hearing of a suit filed by the reinstated Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, until March 17.
Justice Pinheiro fixed the new date following submissions of lawyers representing parties. Obasa challenges the allegations that led to his initial removal as the Speaker.
The allegations include fraud, high-handedness, abuse of office and gross misconduct. The respondents in the suit are members of the House of Assembly and former Speaker Mojisola Meranda.
During resumed proceedings, lead counsel for the House of Assembly, Femi Falana (SAN), informed the court that the claimant’s lead counsel, Mr. Afolabi Fasanu (SAN), served them further affidavits yesterday morning.
“The claimant’s counsel served us further affidavits today, challenging my clients to have reaction,” Falana told the court.
Meranda’s lead counsel, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), informed the court that the further processes Falana referred to entailed serious fraud allegations against his client.
“We shall be asking for an adjournment to respond to the new application,” Oyetibo said.
Olusola Idowu (SAN) announced his appearance as an incoming counsel, representing the House of Assembly in the case, following which Falana prayed the court to hear the application on the change of counsel.
Falana argued that the Court of Appeal’s decision had mandated that a trial court hear an application for change of counsel before other applications were entertained.
Justice Pinheiro said hearing of all applications and processes before the court would be taken at once.
The judge, therefore, ordered all parties to file, serve and exchange their processes before the next adjourned date, stressing that all applications would 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.and counter,” she said.
Justice Pinheiro therefore adjourned the case till March 17 for the hearing of the applications filed by the parties.
