The National Industrial Court has denied reinstating the suspended clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Olalekan Onafeko, just as it berated him for resorting to self-help.
Onafeko earlier stormed the House and took over the office of the acting clerk, Taiwo Ottun, claiming the court reinstated him.
At the resumed hearing of the matter,Tuesday, the court said it only asked that parties to maintain peace and that none of the parties should ‘do anything that will be detrimental to the peace of the state pending the hearing of the motion on notice.’
Before adjourning the matter till March 18, 2025, for hearing of all applications before it, the court expressed surprise that its declaration was misinterpreted by the claimant.
Earlier, O.O. Oniyire (SAN) informed Justice M.N. Esowe that Onafeko engaged in self-help by breaking down the doors and taking over the office of the acting clerk of the House.
He also said Onafeko issued press releases and statements claiming to have been reinstated by the court.
He further informed the court that the claimant had resorted to using men of the DSS and the police to harass and intimidate the acting clerk.
On February 20, 2025, the court heard an ex-parte application where Onafeko urged it to restrain the respondents. However, the court restrained itself from granting the claimant’s prayers due to their voluminous nature.
