The National Industrial Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the reinstatement of Olalekan Onafeko as Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The ruling followed an ex parte application filed by Onafeko’s counsel, Yusuf Nurudeen, in a suit 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 Babatunde Ottun.
Onafeko was removed from office on January 13 following the ousting of Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa as Speaker. The House elected Mojisola Lasbat Meranda as the new Speaker, a move that also led to Babatunde Ottun being appointed as the acting Clerk.
The claimant, in suit number NICN/LA/23/2025, sought an interim injunction restraining the defendants from recognizing or appointing anyone, including Ottun, as Clerk, pending the hearing of the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction.
Granting the request, Justice M. N. Esowe issued an ex parte order directing Ottun to stop parading himself as Clerk and restoring the previous status quo before the leadership crisis.
“That both parties shall maintain the peace and status quo ante bellum until the motion on notice is heard and determined,” the judge ruled.
The court has scheduled the hearing of the motion on notice for March 3, 2025.
