The Acting Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Taiwo Abubakar Babatunde Ottun, has stated that the embattled Clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Biliamin Onafeko, misrepresented the judgment of the Industrial Court of Arbitration, which recently ruled on his suspension by the Assembly.

In a statement titled “Public Notice of the Lagos State House of Assembly,” dated Friday, February 28, 2025, Ottun declared that all dealings with the suspended Clerk should cease immediately.

*”Please be informed that at the plenary session of the Lagos State House of Assembly on January 13, 2025, comprising thirty-three (33) members, Mr. Olalekan Biliamin Onafeko (hereinafter referred to as the ‘suspended Clerk’ of the House) was, by a resolution of the Assembly, suspended as the Clerk of the House of Assembly, while Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa was removed as Speaker.

“At the same plenary session, Mr. Ottun Abubakar Taiwo Babatunde was appointed as the Acting Clerk of the House, pending further directives.

“On January 15, 2025, the Head of Service of Lagos State issued a circular (copy attached) informing all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of Lagos State about the change in leadership within the Lagos State House of Assembly,”* he said.

Ottun emphasized that the suspended Clerk of the House had since sought legal redress in Suit No. NICN/LAI23/2025 against the Lagos State House of Assembly, challenging his suspension and/or removal. On February 20, 2025, the court, in response to an ex-parte application, ordered all parties to maintain peace and status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed on behalf of the suspended Clerk.

According to Ottun, “The suspended Clerk has, however, misrepresented the court’s order to the public, falsely claiming it as an order for his reinstatement as the Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly.”

He then directed all public institutions, financial institutions, contractors, and the general public to disregard any directives, notices, or communications from the suspended Clerk, asserting that they were intended to mislead the public, undermine the judiciary, and disrupt the rule of law.

“All dealings with the suspended Clerk in this regard must cease immediately until all matters before the court are resolved,” he concluded. (Saturday Tribune)