The National Industrial Court in Lagos has removed Ottun Babatunde from his position as the acting clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly, a role to which he was appointed by Speaker Mojisola Meranda.
The court ordered the reinstatement of Olalekan Onafeko, the former clerk of the House.
This ruling follows an ex parte application filed by Onafeko through his lawyer, Yusuf Nurudeen, in a lawsuit against the Lagos State Government, the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, the Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission, the Speaker of the Assembly, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, and Babatunde.
Read Also: Lagos Speaker Mojisola Meranda Speaks As Resignation Rumour Thickens
Onafeko had served as clerk before January 13, when Speaker Mudashiru Obasa was removed from office.
In the case, marked NICN/LA/23/2025, Onafeko sought an interim injunction preventing the six defendants from recognizing or appointing any individual, including Babatunde, as the clerk until the court hears a motion for an interlocutory injunction.
Justice M. N. Esowe granted the request in an ex parte ruling, ordering Babatunde to stop acting as clerk.
“The parties are to maintain peace and revert to the previous status quo until the motion on notice is heard and determined,” the judge ruled in a judgment dated February 20, which was obtained by our correspondent on Sunday.
The court has scheduled the hearing for the motion on notice for March 3, 2024.
This development marks another twist in the ongoing crisis within the Lagos Assembly since the removal of Obasa, who has taken legal action against the House and Speaker Meranda in an attempt to challenge his removal.
The Assembly had indefinitely suspended its sittings on February 12 following the presence of Department of State Services (DSS) operatives, which heightened tensions and sparked controversy.
Additionally, the DSS recently arrested three Assembly staff members for allegedly attacking its personnel on February 17.
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2Z
