CITIZENS COMPASS– A civil society organisation, Vanguard for Social Justice, on Wednesday, called for the reinstatement of Rot. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
It cautioned the Assembly members to follow the constitution as regards the ongoing crisis occasioned by the impeachment.
The Group said Obasa’s impeachment negates the rules.
The Convener of the Group, Comrade Olanrewaju Adekunle, in a statement, said, “Vanguard for Social Justice (VSJ) as a stakeholder within the civil society platform considers it pertinent to issue this press statement on the lingering crisis at Lagos State House of Assembly following the impeachment of its speaker, Rot. Hon. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa, on January 13, 2025.
“The impeachment was frivolous and hinged on allegations and procedures alien to the constitution of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria.
“Similarly, the emergence of the new Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda was illegal.
“Lagos State House of Assembly is a creation of the Nigerian Constitution with the prerogative to operate within the ambit of the law.
“The action took by the Assembly members countered constitutional position as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which invariably negates the sitting and proceedings of the Lagos State House of Assembly during recess without the Speaker reconvening the House of delegates or translate power to another person to reconvene the House.
“In reference to the Seventh schedule of 1999 constitution as amended, there are laid down rules and guidelines in removing any presiding officers of the legislative arm under section 92 (2) (c) i – viii which stated thus and i quotes.
“(i) a notice in writing addressed to the clerk of the house stating reasons for the removal from office and signed by not less than (1/3) of all members of the house which notice shall be served to the affected presiding officer within 24 hours of receipt of such notice;
“(ii) The affected presiding officer shall within a period of 72 hours respond in writing to the allegations through the clerk, which response shall be circulated to all members
“(iii) A member shall move a motion which shall be seconded for the investigation of the allegations and the response by an Ad-hoc committee set up for that purpose;
“(iv) The Ad-hoc committee shall within 72 hours report it’s finding to the house;
“(v) A Speaker pro-Tempore shall be elected for the purpose of considering the report.
“(vi) If the presiding officer is indicted by the committee, a motion that the affected officer be removed shall be moved and seconded in the chamber with the mace in place.
“(vii) If the motion is supported by two third (2/3) majority of all members, the affected officer stands removed.
“(viii) For the purpose of determining two thirds (2/3), voice votes shall not be used.
“Many people know that none of the sections of the constitution was followed on January 13, 2025 at the Lagos State House of Assembly in the acclaimed removal of Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa. Therefore, in the face of parliamentary palace Hon. Obasa removal is null and void.
“Above all, the House was on recess as at the time the illegal removal was carried out by the Assembly members which is against the ethics, rules, precedent and constitutionality of the sitting and proceedings of the Assembly to sit during recess without the Speaker reconvening the House or giving any other person powers to reconvene the House. This action could be referred to as Parliamentary coup and as a human rights group who was on barricade against the military junta to truncate democracy we are all enjoying, we cannot fold our arms and look the other way to the happenings in the state which could lead to anarchy and state of interregnum if not nipped in the board.
“As an active participatory participant who serves as watchdogs to government policy, actions and in-actions that could cause disruption of peace within the community, state , country or loss of lives of the citizenry, abuse of fundamental human right, violation of right to fair hearing.
“As a group, we call on the APC- led government both at the state and federal levels to prevail on Lagos State House of Assembly members to give Hon. Obasa fair hearings according to the law, rules, ethics, guidelines and principles that guides the Assembly’s proceedings in tandem with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
“We are aware that the leadership crisis in the State Assembly has taken a new twist as the impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, has approached the court of law to seek redress which is commendable as a law abiding citizen of the country. “While he filed a lawsuit at the Lagos State High Court, demanding his immediate reinstatement as the head of the state’s parliament, he challenged the constitutionality of the January 13, 2025, plenary session where his co- lawmakers orchestrated his removal, claiming the sitting was illegal.
“Vanguard for social justice is perturbed with the game being played by the state actors, which means to us that, there is more than meets the eyes of ordinary Lagosians, if not, why in the early hours of Monday (17/02/2025) , the presence of the state security agency was noticed at the Assembly but thanks to the swift response of the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) which stated that the clerk of the House wrote them seeking the Service to protect the Assembly complex as they believed Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa’s presence in the Lagos House Assembly might cause rancour and violence which may disrupt the peace of the state.”
The Group listed its demand as:
Our demands:
Allegations of misappropriation should be reversed and redirected in writing by 1/3 of the house members to the clerk of the house.
Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa should be reinstated as Speaker unconditionally.”
