The Lagos State High Court sitting in Yaba has restrained the Chairman of Kosofe Local Government, Moyosore Ogunlewe, and the leadership of the council’s legislative arm from taking disciplinary action against a councillor representing Anthony Village, David Samuel, over his alleged role in exposing financial impropriety within the council.
Justice Olufunke Sule-Amzat granted the order on March 10, 2026, while ruling on an ex parte application filed by the councillor in a suit marked LD/21415MFHR/2026.
Listed as respondents in the suit are the Leader of the Legislative Council, Isiwu Charity; the council chairman, Moyosore Ogunlewe; Oyedile Olufemi; the Kosofe Local Government Legislative Council; the Nigeria Police Force; and the Area Commander, Area H Command, Ogudu, Lagos.
In the ruling, Justice Sule-Amzat granted an interim injunction restraining the respondents from suspending or expelling the councillor or taking any form of disciplinary action against him pending the determination of the substantive suit.
“The respondents are hereby restrained from suspending, expelling, deducting the salary or benefits of the applicant, or taking any disciplinary action against him pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion on notice,” the court held.
The judge also barred the Nigeria Police Force from arresting or detaining Samuel in connection with a sexual harassment petition filed against him, noting that the matter was already under investigation by the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi.
Justice Sule-Amzat further directed that the respondents should not take any further steps regarding the petition against the councillor until the court determines the pending motion.
Samuel, in a 27-paragraph affidavit deposed in support of the application, alleged that he had been subjected to intimidation and political victimisation by the council chairman and some members of the legislative leadership.
According to him, the alleged harassment began after he and two other councillors, Abayomi Elugbidin and Sulaimon Baruwa, submitted a petition dated December 2, 2025, to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The petition accused the council chairman of undermining democratic governance in the local government through several actions, including the appointment of individuals described as “shadow councillors.”
“The chairman has allegedly appointed unelected persons to perform the duties of councillors, while duly elected councillors are sidelined and deprived of their statutory entitlements,” Samuel stated in the affidavit.
He further alleged that the petition raised concerns over the management of a N100m empowerment fund, which the councillors claimed was distributed through individuals who were not elected members of the council.
Samuel also told the court that shortly after the petition was submitted, a separate petition dated December 19, 2025, surfaced in which one Ms Idowu Charity accused him of sexual harassment.
He denied the allegation, describing it as false and orchestrated to discredit him.
“I have never had any personal relationship with the said petitioner. I only recall seeing her once in a public setting,” he stated, adding that the allegation was designed to tarnish his reputation and undermine his political career.
Samuel further alleged that the petition was part of a coordinated attempt to silence him for exposing alleged financial irregularities within the council.
“My ordeal began after I participated in exposing acts of financial misconduct and abuse of office within the council,” he told the court.
Following the court’s ruling, the judge adjourned the matter to March 17, 2026, for further hearing of the case.
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