JUST IN: Tension as DSS Storms Lagos Assembly, Seals Speaker’s Office
Kehinde Adeleye
In the early hours of Monday, operatives from the Department of State Security (DSS) and Nigeria Police stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly, sealing the offices of the Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, her deputy, and the clerk of the House.
Armed security personnel were stationed at the assembly premises in Alausa, Ikeja, frisking passersby and restricting access. By 10 AM, the entire area was under tight security control, with Meranda arriving at the Assembly around 11:15 AM.
The operation follows ongoing tensions within the Lagos State House of Assembly, particularly regarding the controversial removal of the former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.
Obasa, who was ousted on January 13, 2025, by 32 out of the 40 assembly members, has been engaged in a legal battle to challenge the legitimacy of his removal. At the time of his removal, Obasa was in the United States, and his ousting was described by President Bola Tinubu as a “coup.”
Obasa has filed a lawsuit at the Ikeja Division of the Lagos State High Court, seeking an expedited hearing of his case, which names the current Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, and the Lagos State House of Assembly as defendants.
His lawyers, led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, are asking the court for an urgent ruling on the matter. Among the reliefs sought is an order for accelerated hearing, as well as the abridgment of time for filing responses and replies.
The lawsuit is based on constitutional grounds, specifically challenging the legality of the January 13 proceedings, which Obasa argues were conducted in violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Lagos State House of Assembly’s rules.
Obasa’s legal team claims that the Assembly sat without the Speaker’s consent, raising concerns about the legality of the process that led to his removal.
Obasa has called for the case to be heard urgently to avoid further disruption to legislative activities in the state, with the motion also highlighting the need for quick resolution due to the exceptional circumstances surrounding the case.
As of now, the legal battle continues, with tensions high as the court deliberates on the matter.
