A lawyer and political analyst, Liborous Oshoma, has stated that the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly is legally final.
According to Oshoma, the lawmakers followed all the necessary constitutional steps in the decision to remove Obasa, despite claims made by the former Speaker.
In an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Oshoma referred to Section 92, Subsection 2, Paragraph C of the Constitution, which grants lawmakers the power to remove a Speaker by a resolution supported by a two-thirds majority.
He emphasized that the Constitution does not require the lawmakers to provide a reason for such a decision.
“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 explained.
The lawyer also pointed out that the motion passed to remove Obasa did not mention impeachment and that the process adhered to legal norms, with a quorum of 35 out of 40 members voting for the removal.
Oshoma stressed that the presence of the Speaker was not necessary for his removal, and that the constitutional requirements had been met.
Obasa, who was out of the country on January 13, was removed by the House of Assembly amid accusations of statutory and financial mismanagement. His deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was subsequently elected as the new Speaker.
Upon returning to Nigeria, Obasa insisted on Saturday that he remained the Speaker, calling the corruption allegations against him “fictitious and unsubstantiated.”
He claimed that due process was not followed in his removal, accusing the state commissioner of police of aiding the process during his absence.
Despite Obasa’s claims, Oshoma reinforced that, legally, the former Speaker no longer holds the position, as the actions of the lawmakers were in full accordance with the law.