Lagos Assembly Crisis: Court Reinstates Sacked Clerk

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) has ordered the reinstatement of Olalekan Onafeko as the Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly, following his controversial removal earlier this year.

The ruling, delivered by Justice Maureen Nkechinyere Esowe, also directed the immediate removal of Ottun Babatunde, who was appointed as the new Clerk after Onafeko’s dismissal. 

The crisis began on January 13 when Onafeko was sacked after the removal of the former Speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa. Questioning the legality of the decision, Onafeko, through his lawyer, Yusuf Nurudeen, filed an ex-parte application before the NICN in Lagos, challenging his dismissal and the appointment of Babatunde. 

In the suit, marked NICN/LA/23/2025, Onafeko asked the court for an interim injunction to stop the Lagos State Government, the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, the Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission, the Speaker of the Lagos Assembly, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, and Babatunde himself from recognizing or presenting anyone else as Clerk of the House. 

Justice Esowe, on February 20, ruled in favour of Onafeko, granting his request for an interim injunction. The judge ordered Babatunde to step down immediately and reinstated Onafeko to his former position. She further instructed all parties involved to maintain peace and uphold the situation as it was before the dispute until the court hears the full case. 

“That both parties shall maintain the peace and status quo ante bellum until the motion on notice is heard and determined,” Justice Esowe stated in her ruling.