Obasa court verdict- the grim implications for Lagos Assembly and Meranda, by Ibidapo Balogun

In the run-up to his controversial reinstatement as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly following his removal in January by an overwhelming majority of his colleagues, Hon. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa was widely expected to withdraw his case against the House from court.
He did not, despite the initial promise he made to that effect as part of the grounds for the resolution of the crisis. Where did Obasa draw the inspiration, indeed the effrontery, not to do so given the intervention from high quarters that engendered his return as speaker?
Is there any underlying motivation for his action?

On Wednesday April 16, the Lagos High Court in Ikeja gave its verdict: Justice Yetunde Pinheiro declared Obasa’s removal as illegal and unconstitutional. She nullified the House’s proceedings and resolutions of January 13 that led to Obasa’s ouster.
The reinstated Speaker Obasa had filed the suit to challenge the legality of the process that removed him and appointed his deputy, Hon. Mojisola Lesbat Meranda, as Speaker.

Now, Justice Pinheiro’s ruling has huge implications not only for the House but also, and particularly so, for Hon. Lesbat Meranda.
For the House, the judgement has invalidated the proceedings of that January 13 and the resolutions reached. It also put in jeopardy the elections of some officers conducted in the process that brought Obasa back to his seat like that of the new Majority Leader, Hon. Temitope Adewale Joseph aka Jah.

For Lesbat Meranda, however, the court verdict has upended her rise and removed any trace of it from history. The judgement means she was never speaker. This is despite the overwhelming ovation and applause that had greeted her emergence as the first female speaker in Lagos and the tremendous commendation and goodwill that decision had garnered for the House and for the state.

A political leader who pleaded not to be named also pointed at a poignant message embedded in the new development for Meranda’s sponsors and their cohorts: when you have royal powers, there is no room for the exercise of political powers at the same time.
Why this is even more grim for Meranda and the legislative institution is the finality of that verdict. Not because the House does not have the right of appeal. But who will make the appeal move? Who will cast the stone against the court decision?

An appeal against the judgement will be construed as an appeal against Obasa’s reinstatement that had recieved the nod of the party leadership in Lagos and Abuja. Which House member will dare it? A triumphant Obasa is now appealing to the House for unity, urging his colleagues to rally round him. It’s indeed a hard time for the Lagos Assemby and Hon. Meranda.