The National Industrial Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the reinstatement of Olalekan Onafeko as the Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly, overturning his removal amid the recent leadership crisis in the state legislature.
HEADLINENEWS reports that Justice M. N. Esowe granted the ex parte application filed by Onafeko’s counsel, Yusuf Nurudeen, and directed his replacement, Babatunde Ottun, to stop parading himself as Clerk pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The suit, marked NICN/LA/23/2025, lists the Lagos State Government, the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, the Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission, the Speaker of the House, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, and Babatunde Ottun as defendants.
Onafeko was removed from office on January 13, 2025, following the dramatic ouster of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and the election of Mojisola Meranda as the new Speaker.
Obasa’s removal triggered internal conflicts within the Lagos State House of Assembly and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), leading to changes in key administrative positions, including the appointment of Ottun as Clerk.
Challenging his removal, Onafeko argued in court that the decision was politically motivated and unconstitutional. He sought an interim injunction preventing the defendants from recognizing Ottun or any other individual as Clerk until the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction is heard.
Justice Esowe ruled in Onafeko’s favor, ordering that the status quo ante bellum (the state of affairs before the crisis) be maintained.
“Both parties shall maintain the peace and status quo ante bellum until the motion on notice is heard and determined,” the judge ruled, effectively halting Ottun’s appointment.
The case has been scheduled for hearing on March 3, 2025.
