The Ikeja High Court on Monday extended the hearing of the suit filed by the reinstated speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, until March 17.

Mr Obasa is challenging the allegations that led to his initial removal as speaker, which include fraud, high-handedness, abuse of office, and gross misconduct.

The respondents in the suit are members of the state assembly and former speaker Mojisola Meranda.

At the resumed hearing on Monday, lead counsel for the House of Assembly, Femi Falana (SAN), informed the court that Mr Obasa’s lead counsel, Afolabi Fasanu (SAN), had earlier in the day, served him further with affidavits.

“The claimant’s counsel served us with additional affidavits today, requiring my clients to respond,” Mr Falana said.

Ms Meranda’s lead counsel, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), also informed the court that the documents Mr Falana referred to contained serious fraud allegations against his client.

“There are serious fraud allegations in the further affidavits my learned brother referred to,” Mr Oyetibo said. “We shall be asking for an adjournment to respond to the new application.”

Olusola Idowu (SAN) also announced an appearance as an incoming counsel to represent the House of Assembly in the case.

Mr Falana thereafter prayed the court to hear the application on the change of counsel. He argued that the Court of Appeal decision had mandated a trial court to hear an application for change of counsel before any other one could be entertained.

Justice Yetunde Pinheiro, however, held that the hearing of all applications and processes before the court would be taken at once.

Ms Pinheiro ordered all parties to file, serve and exchange their processes before the next adjourned date.

“All applications, including those seeking an injunction and those challenging jurisdiction, will be heard on March  17.

“The application regarding the change of counsel will also be heard on Monday, along with the counterapplication,” she said.

The court adjourned the case until March 17 for the hearing of various applications filed by the parties.

Mr Obasa was impeached on January 13 over allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office, leading to the deputy speaker’s election as his replacement.

However, on March 3, Mr Obasa was reinstated as the Lagos State House of Assembly speaker. His return followed Ms Meranda’s resignation.

(NAN)