Obasa: Court Dismisses Babatunde, Reinstates Onafeko as Clerk of the Lagos Assembly

The National Industrial Court (NIC) in Lagos has mandated the immediate removal of Ottun Babatunde from his position as the acting clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The court ordered the reinstatement of Olalekan Onafeko, the former clerk of the House, subsequent to the displacement of the former speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, on January 13.

This order emanated from an ex parte application submitted to the court by Onafeko, represented by his counsel, Yusuf Nurudeen, in a case filed against the Lagos State Government, Lagos State Civil Service Commission, Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, and Babatunde.

The claimant, in the suit identified as NICN/LA/23/2025, sought an interim injunction restraining the six defendants from presenting any individual, including Babatunde, as the clerk pending the adjudication of the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction already filed in the suit.

Justice M. N. Esowe, in her ruling on February 20, 2025, acceded to Onafeko’s request for an interim injunction, thereby preventing Babatunde from continuing to act as Clerk of the House.

The judge instructed that both parties uphold peace and maintain the status quo until the comprehensive hearing of the case, which has been slated for March 3, 2024.

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