Court reinstates Lagos Assembly clerk, declares sacking unlawful

Olalekan Onafeko was removed as the Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly due to a recent leadership upheaval in the state legislature, but the National Industrial Court in Lagos has ordered his reinstatement.

Judge M. N. Esowe granted Onafeko’s ex parte application through his attorney, Yusuf Nurudeen, and ordered his successor, Babatunde Ottun, to cease posing as the Clerk right once while the substantive litigation was being decided.

The Lagos State Government, the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, the Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission, the Speaker of the House, the Lagos State Attorney-General, and Babatunde Ottun are all named as defendants in the lawsuit, which is filed under the filing number NICN/LA/23/2025.

A Crisis in Politics and a Change in Leadership

Following the shocking removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and the election of Mojisola Meranda as the new Speaker, Onafeko was dismissed from office on January 13, 2025.
Key administrative positions were changed as a result of the issue surrounding Obasa’s resignation, including the appointment of Babatunde Ottun to replace Onafeko in the Lagos State House of Assembly and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Onafeko contested his dismissal in his lawsuit, claiming it was unlawful and politically motivated. Additionally, until the move on notice for an interlocutory injunction is considered, he requested an interim injunction prohibiting the defendants from designating anyone—including Ottun—as Clerk.

In support of Onafeko, Justice Esowe issued an order preserving the status quo ante bellum, or the pre-crisis situation.

In the ruling, the judge declared that until the move on notice is heard and decided, “both parties shall maintain the peace and status quo ante bellum.”

The court further stressed that Ottun’s appointment is essentially void since he must stop carrying out the Clerk’s responsibilities.

The hearing of the move on notice has been scheduled for March 3, 2024.