Court dismisses suit seeking to change Lagos Assembly counsel

Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the Lagos High Court has dismissed an application seeking a change of counsel representing the Lagos State House of Assembly in the suit filed by the reinstated speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.

At the resumed hearing on Monday, the Judge ruled that Femi Falana (SAN) remains the competent and duly authorized counsel to represent the House of Assembly, the first defendant in the case.

Falana had argued that the court should first consider his application for a stay of proceedings, pending the outcome of an appeal he filed at the Court of Appeal against an earlier decision of the lower court.

Justice Pinheiro, however, overruled his objection, stating that the application directly challenged Falana’s continued representation of the House, which is the first defendant in the case.

Olusola Idowu (SAN), the lead counsel seeking to replace Falana, argued that the House has the right to change its legal team at any time.

He further stated that the National Industrial Court in Lagos had ordered the reinstatement of suspended Clerk Olalekan Onafeko, who has now engaged a new legal team to represent the House.

However, Falana countered that he had not been debriefed by the House and insisted that the Industrial Court had denied issuing any order reinstating Onafeko.

Adding to the debate, Abimbola Akeredolu (SAN), counsel to former Speaker Mojisola Meranda, urged the court to dismiss the application, arguing that it interfered with the substantive suit, which remains a key issue in the case.

Similarly, Olu Daramola (SAN), representing 33 of the 40 lawmakers (defendants 3 to 35 in the suit), asserted that the majority of legislators had suspended Onafeko and subsequently engaged Falana to represent the House.

He also maintained that the Industrial Court’s ruling had been misinterpreted, as Onafeko had not been reinstated.

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