“Lagos Assembly Clerk Resumes Duty After Court Orders Reinstatement”

Olalekan Onafeko, the suspended Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has officially resumed his duties following a court ruling that reinstated him.

Onafeko, who was suspended on January 13, the same day 36 out of 40 lawmakers removed Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker, had contested his indefinite suspension by filing a suit at the National Industrial Court (NIC). The court ruled in his favor, ordering his reinstatement pending the determination of his case against the state government and other parties involved.

Speaking to reporters in his office on Thursday, Onafeko expressed his confusion over the suspension, noting that he had not been informed of any wrongdoing nor given prior notice. He emphasized that he was appointed as Clerk in 2022 for a four-year term, with eligibility for reappointment under the provisions of the Lagos State House of Assembly Legislative Service Commission Law.

Onafeko, clearly elated by the court’s decision, stated, “With the court’s order reinstating me as Clerk of the House, the illegality and legislative rascality by the lawmakers have been nullified.” He added that the court’s ruling had effectively cleared the way for his return to office, pending the hearing of a motion for an interlocutory injunction he had filed in the ongoing legal case.

“The order has been duly served on the concerned parties,” he confirmed. “This is a victory for the rule of law and the ethos of a civil society. The court remains the last hope of the common man, including the oppressed.”

Onafeko’s reinstatement serves as a reminder of the importance of due process and the rule of law, offering a significant win for those advocating for fairness and accountability in the legislative process.