The order was given by Justice Yetunde Pinheiro after hearing two applications filed by some members of the house seeking to be joined in the proceedings.
Through their lawyers, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Olu Daramola and Dada Awosika, members of the Assembly who were not initially listed as defendants in the suit filed by Obasa moved their applications seeking to be joined as parties.
Obasa had approached the court to challenge his removal by at least 35 of his colleagues on January 13, 2025.
In the application dated February 12, 2025, and filed by his lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afolabi Fashanu, the claimant stated that he was removed from his position on January 13, 2025, by 35 lawmakers while he was out of the country.
At the proceedings today, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Tayo Oyetibo led Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Bimbo Akeredolu, and other lawyers to represent the Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana led Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Muiz Banire and other counsel to represent 34 lawmakers loyal to Meranda, while Senior Advocates, Olu Daramola and Dada Awosika represented other members of the house seeking to be joined in the suit.
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There was also a mild drama in court when another counsel, Abang Mkpandiok got up to challenge Falana’s representation of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Mkpandiok said he had been briefed last night by the Assembly and filed his motion for a change of counsel in the matter this morning.
He noted that the choice of counsel is a fundamental human right and urged the court to take his application first.
Falana, in his objection, told the court that he had not been served and remained the counsel on record for the Assembly.
Oyetibo also said he had not been served the application.
Mkpandiok then elected to serve the application on the other counsel in court.
After checking the court’s records, Justice Pinheiro noted that the application for change of counsel was not ripe for hearing.
The court also held that the application for accelerated hearing would not be taken today.
The court has adjourned till March 7 to hear all pending applications.
After the proceedings, Meranda, while speaking to journalists, denied that she had resigned and condemned what she said was the invasion of the house on Thursday by the removed Speaker, Obasa.
On her security details, Meranda said her security, which includes 12 police officers and four DSS operatives, has not been fully restored, as she presently has only four police officers attached to her.