The National Industrial Court in Lagos has ordered the reinstatement of Olalekan Onafeko as the Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly, sacking the acting clerk, Ottun Babatunde, who was appointed by Speaker Mojisola Meranda.
The ruling followed an ex parte application by Onafeko, filed through his counsel, Yusuf Nurudeen, against the Lagos State Government, Lagos State Civil Service Commission, Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission, the Speaker, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, and Babatunde.
Justice M. N. Esowe, in an order dated February 20, directed Babatunde to stop parading himself as Clerk and ordered all parties to maintain the status quo until the motion on notice is heard on March 3, 2025.
The decision marks another development in the ongoing crisis within the Lagos Assembly following the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. Obasa has since taken legal action against the Assembly and Speaker Meranda.
The crisis deepened on February 12 when the House adjourned indefinitely following heightened tensions and the deployment of Department of State Services (DSS) officials. The DSS later arrested three Assembly staff members on February 17 for allegedly assaulting its personnel during a confrontation.
A letter signed by acting clerk Ottun had invited the DSS for security reinforcement, restricting access to the Assembly complex from February 15. However, after reviewing CCTV footage, DSS operatives identified and arrested three suspects, including a photographer and two staff members attached to the Assembly’s Sergeant-at-Arms.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, confirmed that the suspects have been released on bail.
