A lawyer and political analyst, Liborous Oshoma, says the fate of Mudashiru Obasa, who was recently removed as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly by his fellow lawmakers is sealed under the law.
According to Oshoma, the Lagos State lawmakers followed every necessary step provided by the Constitution in the removal of the former Speaker.
“By reason of Section 92 Subsection 2 Paragraph C, if they deem fit by resolution of the House, supported by two-third members to remove the said Speaker, they don’t have to give anybody any reason,” Oshoma said on a live television programme on Sunday.
The lawyer further stated, “And if you look at the motion that was tabled on the house that day, there was nowhere impeachment was used by either the letter, the honourable member who moved the motion and the one that supported the motion.
“So, when you talk about 40 members, the two-third of 40 members is about 26. And so, if you have between 35 and 37 that is more than two-third. So, when you have 35 members out of 40 voting to remove a speaker, whether it is a mace that had not been used, the fact that there is a mace, the sergeant at arm brought the mace into the House, the reasons are immaterial.
“You must not be present to be removed, you can be there, you might not be there. If you look at all the gamut of the law there is nowhere that states that there must be a reason to remove a speaker, I have not heard any and the former speaker also didn’t cite any constitutional provision. So, as it stands today, legally speaking, the former speaker ceases to hold office as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.”
On January 13, Obasa, who was away from the country, was removed as Speaker by his colleagues who accused him of multiple statutory and financial infractions.
He was subsequently replaced by his deputy, Mojisola Meranda.
On his return to Nigeria on Saturday, Obasa insisted that he remains the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
He described the corruption allegations against him as “fictitious and unsubstantiated.”
Speaking during a welcome rally at his residence in GRA, Ikeja on Saturday, Obasa maintained that he was not afraid of being impeached but emphasised that due process was not followed.
The former speaker alleged that his removal was orchestrated while he was away and accused the state Commissioner of Police of aiding the process.
