The National Industrial Court has reprimanded Olalekan Onafeko, the suspended Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly, for taking matters into his own hands.
The court clarified that it never ordered his reinstatement, as some media outlets had reported. Earlier, Onafeko stormed the Assembly building and took over the office of the acting Clerk, Taiwo Ottun, claiming the court had reinstated him.
At a hearing on Tuesday, the court stated that it only instructed the involved parties to maintain peace and refrain from actions that could disrupt the state’s harmony until the motion on notice was heard. The court expressed surprise at how its order had been misinterpreted by Onafeko.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate O.O. Oniyire informed Justice M.N. Esowe that Onafeko had engaged in self-help by forcibly entering the office, breaking down doors, and taking control of the space. Oniyire also revealed that Onafeko issued press statements falsely claiming reinstatement and used personnel from the DSS and police to intimidate the acting Clerk.
On February 20, 2025, the court had heard an ex-parte application from Onafeko, seeking a restraining order against the respondents. However, the court refrained from granting his requests due to their complexity and instead instructed both parties to “maintain peace and the status quo ante bellum” until the motion was fully heard. The matter was adjourned until March 18, 2025, for further hearings.
