I am Mr. Olalekan Biliamin ONAFEKO, the Clerk of the Lagos State House Assembly. I was appointed to serve a term of four (4) years and I am eligible for re-appointment in compliance with Section 21 of the Lagos State House of Assembly Legislative Service Commission Law, Ch. L34, Vol. 5, Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (2021 as amended).
Since my appointment as Acting Clerk and subsequently confirmation as the Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly with effect from the 14th of January, 2022, I have maintained a clean record of service.
To my utter dismay, while I was on an official trip to Washington, DC, in the United States of America, on a study tour of the United States of America Congress. I received the news of my indefinite suspension.
The last sitting called by Rt. Hon. Ajayi Mudashiru Obasa which I communicated Honourable members of the House being the Clerk of the House, took place on the 6th of January, 2025, and after the proceedings of that day, sitting was adjourned 18th of February, 2025. It was an adjournment to a specific date.
As the Clerk of the House, the procedure for re-assembly of the House as provided for in the Standing Orders of the House requires that I give notice and communicate to members of the House as soon as I receive a directive from the Speaker; Rt. Hon. Ajayi Mudashiru Obasa for the sitting. This was not the case for the sitting of the 13th of January, 2025.
Before I departed from Nigeria on the 8th of January, 2025 with the permission of the Speaker, I did not receive any query in writing notifying me of the grounds on which I was to be disciplined or letter of invitation to any panel of inquiry indicting me and my office of financial misappropriation or any misconduct/serious misconduct as provided for in the Lagos State Public Service Rules.
At the purported sitting of the 13th of January, 2025, assembled in contravention with the Standing Orders of the House, Honourable Olanrewaju S. Afinni, representing Lagos Island II Constituency, suddenly moved a motion for my indefinite suspension as the Clerk of the House to pave the way for investigation of alleged financial misappropriation which I had no notice of up till this moment.
I know that as a Civil servant and the Clerk of the House who rose through the ranks pursuant to my hard work and dedication to the ethos of public service, I adhere strictly to the code of conduct and maintain political neutrality. I am not a politician or a member of the 10th Assembly and cannot be subjected to the fiat or arbitrary orders of elected politicians.
I am an employee of the Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission established Lagos State House of Assembly Legislative Service Commission Law, Ch. L34, Vol. 5, Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (2021 as amended) and I maintain a career trajectory that is strictly governed by the Lagos State Government Public Service Rules (Revised 2015).
Till the very moment I received the news of my indefinite suspension while in the United States of America, I was not aware of any investigation launched by LAHASCOM to uncover any financial misappropriation by my office.
The Lagos State Government Public Service Rules (Revised 2015) have extant provisions on disciplinary procedures for a Civil/Public Servant of my cadre. Such disciplinary procedure must be undertaken before discipline.
Immediately after the unfortunate incident, I consulted my team of Lawyers and we approached the Court to challenge the action of the Lagos State House of Assembly and my indefinite suspension on the 13th of January, 2025 at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in SUIT NO. NICN/LA/23/2025: Mr. Olalekan Biliamin Onafeko v. Lagos State Government & Ors. The Court per HON. JUSTICE M. N. ESOWE made a preservative order of STATUS QUO ANTE LITEM MOTAM ‘the state of affairs before the parties began to litigate’ (that is, the events of Monday, the 13th January 2025).
By implication, the Court has ordered that I resume my duties as the Clerk of the House pending the hearing of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction already filed in the suit. The said order has been duly served on the concerned parties.
This is victory for the Rule of law and ethos of a civil society. The Court is indeed the last hope of the common man including the oppressed. The Court has nibbed the illegality and this legislative rascality of the on bud.
I am grateful to God and the judiciary.
God bless Lagos State.
Signed:
Mr. Olalekan Biliamin ONAFEKO,
Clerk, the Lagos State House Assembly.
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