The leadership dispute in the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) took a new turn on Monday as Tajudeen Baruwa assumed control of the union’s national secretariat in Abuja, displacing Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, after a series of court rulings.
Baruwa addressed journalists at the secretariat shortly after taking over, accompanied by supporters from across the country. He said his action followed two court judgments delivered in his favour.
After the rulings, he said the union informed the Nigerian Police and attached copies of the judgments to support its request to regain access to the secretariat.
He, however, said the response from the police was not encouraging, which led the union to issue another notice days ago, stating its plan to take over the office and resume duties in line with the court decisions.
Baruwa said, “Their body language has not been encouraging despite repeated assurance that we are not going back to foment any trouble as we are a law-abiding union whose only mission is to get back what belonged to them.
“But today, as you can see, we are taking over in a peaceful manner, and it is not a forceful takeover but just carrying out the court’s orders.
“Again, please be aware that our coming here after two years is to occupy our office, having obtained judgments at both the lower court and the Appeal Court, but they refused to obey court orders after waiting for about two years. We decided to resume back at the office today without causing any violence, and here we are.
“Although the other faction attacked one of our members, who is now in the hospital, the situation is under control. We are still open to reconciliation as we are a lawful organization and not a troublemaker. No one is above the law.”
Also speaking, the General Secretary, Suleiman Musa, said those occupying the secretariat had refused to leave despite several appeals.
Musa stated, “We have notified the police that, on the order of the court, we are coming back to our office today, and we are glad that journalists are here to witness it so that the world will know what is going on here.”
Baruwa, who is contesting the NURTW leadership, had earlier opposed the inauguration of Oluomo as the union’s president.
Both the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal had earlier restrained interference in the activities of the Baruwa-led executive.
In suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023, the National Industrial Court, in a ruling delivered by Hon. O.O. Oyewumi, affirmed Baruwa as the duly elected President of the union.
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Similarly, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, in a judgment delivered on November 8 in appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/293/2024, confirmed Baruwa as the legitimate president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers.
The appellate court upheld the earlier judgment delivered on March 11, 2024, which recognised Baruwa as president.
A three-member panel of Justices Hamma Akawu Barka, Nnamdi Dimgba, and Asmau Ojuolape Akanbi dismissed the appeal filed by Najeem Usman Yasin, Tajudeen Agbede, and others, ruling that it lacked merit and affirming the industrial court’s decision.
The court also awarded N100,000 in costs against the appellants, who are known loyalists of Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.
The appellants, who were defendants at the National Industrial Court, include Yasin, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, Alhaji Aliyu Ore, Kayode Agbeyangi, Alhaji Alhassan Haruna 313, Aliyu Tanimu and Alhaji Hakeem Adeosun.
The respondents, who were claimants at the National Industrial Court, include Baruwa, Bello Adamu, Eugene Job, Danjuma Saidu, Prince Isah Usman, Suleiman Adamu and Odion Olaye JP.