Vanguard for Social Justice (VSJ) as a Stakeholders within the civil society platform considers it pertinent to issue this press statement on the prefix of happenings and what appears to be the lingering unease at Lagos State House of Assembly following the January 13th, 2025 illegal removal of Rt. Hon. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa as Speaker of Lagos State House of assembly on frivolous allegations and procedure alien to the constitution of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria and the emergence replacement of new Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda.
Lagos State House of Assembly is a creation of the Nigerian Constitution with the prerogative to operate within rules binding on members of the house. The action took by the Assembly members countered constitutional position as enshrined in the constitution of Federal Republic Of Nigeria, which invariably negates the sitting and proceedings of the Lagos State House of Assembly to sit during recess without Speakers reconvening the House or delegates or giving any other person powers to reconvene the House.
In reference to Seventh schedule of 1999 constitution as amended, there are lay down rules and guidelines in removing any presiding officers of 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 third (2/3), voice votes shall not be used.
My dear brothers and sisters in the fourth realm, you knows as i know that none of the section of the constitution was followed on January 13th 2025 at 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 coup 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 Perliamentary coup and as a human right group who was on barricade against the military junta to have today’s democracy we are all enjoying, we cannot fold our arms and look other way to the development and happenings in the state which could lead to anarchism and state of interregnum if not nipped on the board. Also, as an active participatory participant whose serves as watchdogs to government policy, actions and in-actions that could caused disruption of peace within the community, state , country or lost 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 in the state and center to prevail on Lagos State House Of Assembly members to give Hon. Obasa fair hearing and try according to law, rules, ethics, guidelines and principles that guides Lagos House of Assembly proceedings in tandem with constitution of the federal Republic Of Nigeria as amended.
We are aware that the leadership crisis in the State Assembly have took new twist as the removed Speaker Mudashiru Obasa approached court of law to seek redress for his reinstatement 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 he’s co- lawmakers orchestrated his removal, claiming the sitting was illegal.
Vanguard for social justice is perturbed with hanged and crucification by all means game being played by the state actors, which means to us that, their is more that goes beyond the eyes of ordinary Lagosians, if not, why early hours of Monday (17/02/2025) invasion of the Lagos Assembly House by the state security agency was pinned on Hon. Obasa but thanks to the swift response of the DSS stating that that clerk of the house office wrote a letter to them seeking for the DSS presence to protect the Assembly complex as they believes Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa presence to the Lagos House Assembly might cause rancour and violence which may affect peace of the state.
DEMANDS
Allegations of misappropriation should be reversed and redirected in writing by 1/3 of the house member to the clerk of the house.
Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa should be reinstated as Speaker unconditionally.
Thanks you all.
Long live Lagos State
Long live Nigeria
Comrade Olanrewaju Adekunle
Convener
