The National Industrial Court in Lagos has dismissed Ottun Babatunde, the acting Clerk of the House, who was appointed by Speaker Mojisola Meranda. The court has ordered the reinstatement of the previous Clerk, Olalekan Onafeko.
This ruling followed an ex parte application made by Onafeko through his lawyer, Yusuf Nurudeen, in a case filed against several parties, including the Lagos State Government, the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, the Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission, the Speaker, the Lagos State House of Assembly, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, and Babatunde.
Onafeko had been the Clerk before January 13, when Obasa was removed as Speaker.
The case, labeled NICN/LA/23/2025, sought an interim injunction to prevent the defendants from recognizing any individual, including Babatunde, as the Clerk until a motion for an interlocutory injunction was heard.
Justice M. N. Esowe granted the application, ordering that Babatunde cease presenting himself as Clerk. The judge also directed both parties to maintain peace and uphold the status quo until the motion on notice is fully heard and resolved. The judgment was issued on February 20 and was confirmed by our correspondent on Sunday.
The judge has set the hearing for the motion on notice for March 3, 2024.
This dismissal adds to the ongoing crisis in the assembly, which began with the removal of Obasa. He has since taken legal action against the assembly and Speaker Meranda, seeking redress.
Recently, the DSS arrested three workers of the House for allegedly assaulting its personnel on February 17. The confrontation took place when certain individuals attacked DSS staff during a disturbance at the assembly on that day.
In a letter dated February 14, 2025, and signed by acting Clerk A. T. B. Ottun, the assembly invited the DSS to enhance security at the facility. The letter, reference LSHA/FAD/0/7554/323, instructed the DSS to implement strict access control starting from February 15 until further notice.
A DSS source revealed that their personnel, stationed at the assembly for security purposes, were attacked on February 17. After reviewing CCTV footage, three suspects were identified: Ibrahim Olanrewaju Abdulkareem, a photographer, and two individuals associated with the Assembly’s Sergeant-at-Arms, Adetu Adekunle Samsudeen and Adetola Oluwatosin Fatimoh. The suspects were tracked down and arrested in different parts of Lagos.
The source confirmed that the suspects will face charges in court, though human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, stated that they had been released on bail.
