Days after the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed Musiliu ‘MC Oluomo’ Akinsanya as President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), he defiantly resumed office on Tuesday.
This marks the first time MC Oluomo has publicly assumed his position since the court ruling.
Earlier, The Telegraph reported that MC Oluomo, the former chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the NURTW, had been elected unopposed as the union’s national president during an election at its zonal secretariat in Osogbo.
However, a subsequent ruling by a three-member panel at the Court of Appeal—Justices Hamma Akawu Barka, Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba, and Asmau Ojuolape Akanbi—nullified MC Oluomo’s election, reaffirming Ibikunle Baruwa as the legitimate NURTW president. The ruling also upheld a previous decision from the National Industrial Court, which had recognized Baruwa as the rightful president in March 2023. The court awarded N100,000 in damages against MC Oluomo in favor of the respondents.
Following the decision, public figures, including human rights lawyer Femi Falana, called for the immediate revocation of MC Oluomo’s inauguration. Falana urged the federal government to reinstate Baruwa as NURTW president and urged the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to enforce the court’s ruling.
As of the time of reporting, the federal government had yet to officially recognize Baruwa as the legitimate NURTW president. The appellate court’s decision also echoed the earlier ruling from the National Industrial Court, which recognized Baruwa as the union’s rightful leader.
Despite the court’s ruling, MC Oluomo took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce his return to office, stating that he was “refocused, recharged, and ready to rock.” He emphasized that he was “back to work” with a determination to overcome challenges and achieve his goals, vowing to stay focused and unstoppable.
During his acceptance speech as President-elect, MC Oluomo called for peace and pledged to foster unity within the union. His son, Idowu Akinsanya (King West), also celebrated the victory, posting a photo of his father alongside President Bola Tinubu and proclaiming, “The country we dey control now, no be only Lagos again.”
As of the report’s filing, Baruwa had not resumed office, and there were no updates on his social media profiles indicating any change. Unlike MC Oluomo, Baruwa has maintained a minimal online presence.
Baruwa, who was first elected NURTW president in 2019, was re-elected for a second term in August 2023.
