Obasa in Fresh Trouble as Supreme Court Record Raises Questions on His Legal Credentials

• A Supreme Court document has questioned the legal credentials of Mudashiru Obasa, the impeached speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly
• Obasa's name was reportedly missing from the Roll of Legal Practitioners in Nigeria, despite his claim to have a law degree from LASU
• The document was dated July 24, 2020, and was signed by Gertrude Karenton-Mordi on behalf of the Supreme Court's chief registrar

Mudashiru Obasa, the impeached speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has landed in another legal problem. A Supreme Court document showed that the embattled lawmaker was not a registered legal practitioner.

The document was said to be a response to a verification request before the Supreme Court. The apex court's response to Obasa's status as a lawyer was dated July 24, 2020, and was signed by Gertrude Karenton-Mordi on behalf of the Supreme Court chief Registrar.

According to AriseTV, the response was titled: “Re: Verification of Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.” The medium reported that in the document, the Supreme Court advised Obasa to come forward with relevant documents to register his name as he had no record with the apex court.

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Supreme Court confirms Obasa's questionable legal status

Fetus Akande, the spokesperson of the Supreme Court, acknowledged that the document emanated from the apex court.

The impeached speaker claimed to have obtained a bachelor's degree in law from Lagos State University (LASU) in 2006.

However, on July 23, 2020, the Supreme Court was asked to confirm whether the embattled lawmaker's name was in the Rolls of Legal Practitioners at the apex court.

When was Obasa sacked as speaker?

On Monday, January 13, Obasa was impeached and replaced by his deputy, Mojisola Meranda.

Obasa was impeached while in the United States. The new speaker, Maranda, was representing Apapa Constituency 1 and had previously served as the house's Chief Whip.

Subsequently, the lawmakers elected Mojeed Fatai as the Deputy Speaker of the House.

Some of the allegations against the impeached Obasa are highhandedness, gross misconduct, lack of commitment to the legislation business, poor leadership, intimidation and suppression of legislative staff and lack of regard for fellow lawmakers.

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Obasa’s impeachment: “How ex-Lagos speaker scored an own-goal,” Top political analyst speaks

The allegations against the former speaker are financial misappropriation, financial impropriety, gross abuse of office and privileges, lack of transparency, and authoritarianism.

Obasa was also accused of always being at odds with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu's executive branch government and being absent from most state functions.

Obasa: APC Chieftain mentions what Tinubu saw

Legit.ng earlier reported that an APC chieftain, Fouad Oki, justified Mudashiru Obasa's impeachment as the Lagos State House of Assembly speaker.

The Lagos lawmakers impeached Obasa on Monday, January 13, over allegations of financial misappropriation.

According to Oki, Obasa was recalcitrant, and President Bola Tinubu saw it in him when he called a meeting to resolve the crisis in the state assembly.

Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng