Lagos Assembly Warns Banks To Ignore Directives From Suspended Clerk

The Lagos State House of Assembly has issued a public notice cautioning all government institutions, financial bodies, contractors, and the general public to disregard any directives or communications from the suspended Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko.

In the notice signed by the Acting Clerk, Ottun Abubakar Taiwo Babatunde, and seen by THE WHISTLER on Saturday, the Assembly made it clear that Onafeko’s recent actions were misleading and aimed at ridiculing the judiciary.

The notice, dated February 28, 2025, warned that any dealings with the suspended Clerk should cease immediately pending the resolution of ongoing court matters.

Onafeko was suspended from office on January 13, 2025, during a plenary session that also saw the removal of the former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.

In response, he approached the National Industrial Court, challenging his suspension. On February 20, the court granted an order for all parties to maintain peace and the status quo ante bellum pending the hearing of his case.

However, the Assembly accused Onafeko of misrepresenting the court’s ruling to the public, falsely implying that he had been reinstated.

The notice emphasized that the court had not ruled on his reinstatement but had only ordered all parties to maintain the situation as it was before the dispute.

The Assembly reiterated that Ottun remains the Acting Clerk and will continue to serve in that capacity until further directives are given. It further urged stakeholders to exercise caution and refrain from engaging with Onafeko in any official capacity.

“On the 15th January, 2025, the Head of Service of Lagos State in that regard issued a circular (copy attached) to inform all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of Lagos State, of the change of leadership in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

“The suspended Clerk of the House has since approached the court for redress in Suit No. NICN/LA/23/2025 against the Lagos State House of Assembly wherein he has challenged his suspension and/or removal, and the Court on the 20th of February, 2025 made an order on an ex-parte application for parties to maintain the peace and status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed on behalf of the suspended clerk.

“The suspended clerk has however misrepresented to the public the order of court as an order for his reinstatement to the Office of Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

“All Public Institutions, Financial Institutions, Contractors and the general public are hereby advised to ignore all directives, notices and or communications from the suspended Clerk of the House as they are calculated to mislead the public and ridicule the judiciary and truncate the rule of law.

“All dealings with the suspended clerk in respect thereof are to be stopped forthwith until all matters in court are resolved. Dated at Lagos this Friday, the 28th day of February 2025,” the notice read partly.

The House has been in turmoil since Obasa’s removal and Onafeko’s suspension over allegations of misconduct.

Lagos Assembly Warns Banks To Ignore Directives From Suspended Clerk is first published on The Whistler Newspaper