The National Industrial Court in Lagos has issued an order reinstating Olalekan Onafeko, the dismissed Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The ruling came after Onafeko filed an ex parte application through his legal counsel, Yusuf Nurudeen, in a case against the Lagos State Government, the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, the Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, and Mr. Babatunde Ottun.
Onafeko held the position of Clerk until January 13, when Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa was removed as Speaker, and Mojisola Lasbat Meranda was elected in his place. This leadership change caused turmoil within the House and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos. Following Obasa’s removal, Onafeko was also dismissed, and Babatunde Ottun was appointed as acting Clerk.
In the case marked NICN/LA/23/2025, Onafeko sought an interim injunction preventing the defendants from recognizing or appointing anyone, including Ottun, as Clerk until a decision was reached on the interlocutory injunction already filed.
Justice M. N. Esowe, granting the request, ruled that Ottun should cease functioning as Clerk and that the status quo before the Assembly’s leadership crisis should be restored.
“The parties involved must maintain peace and revert to the previous state of affairs until the motion on notice is heard and resolved,” Esowe ordered.
The judge scheduled the hearing for the motion on notice for March 3, 2024.