The leadership crisis rocking the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) escalated on Monday as Tajudeen Baruwa took control of the union’s national secretariat in Abuja, displacing Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, after a string of court rulings that altered the union’s leadership structure.
Addressing journalists at the secretariat, Baruwa, flanked by supporters from across the country said his move was backed by two favourable court judgments affirming his position.
Following the rulings, he said the union formally notified the Nigerian Police, submitting copies of the judgments to facilitate the recovery of the secretariat. However, he expressed disappointment with the response, describing it as unhelpful. This, he said, prompted a follow-up notice declaring the union’s intention to reclaim the premises and resume operations in line with the court orders.
“Our intention has always been clear, we are law-abiding and not out to cause trouble,” Baruwa said. “What we are doing today is not a forceful takeover but the enforcement of valid court judgments.”
He added that the union had exercised restraint for nearly two years despite the opposing faction’s refusal to comply with court rulings.
“Although one of our members was attacked and is currently hospitalised, the situation remains under control. We remain open to reconciliation because no one is above the law,” he said.
Backing the move, the union’s General Secretary, Suleiman Musa, said repeated appeals to those occupying the secretariat had been ignored.
“We duly informed the police of our intention to return to our office based on court orders. We are pleased that the media is here to witness this lawful action,” Musa stated.
The dispute stems from Baruwa’s opposition to the emergence of MC Oluomo as the union’s president. Earlier rulings by both the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal restrained interference in the operations of the Baruwa-led executive.
In a judgment delivered in suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023, Justice O.O. Oyewumi of the National Industrial Court affirmed Baruwa as the duly elected president of the union.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja reinforced this position in a November 8 judgment (CA/ABJ/CV/293/2024), upholding the lower court’s earlier ruling of March 11, 2024, which recognised Baruwa’s leadership.
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 it lacked merit. The court also awarded ₦100,000 in costs against the appellants, who are aligned with MC Oluomo.
