The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reaffirmed Musa Mohammed as the duly elected Executive President of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), effectively putting an end to a prolonged leadership dispute within the union.
Delivering its judgment, the three-member panel, led by Justice Hamma Barka and read by Justice Abba Mohammed, struck out the appeal filed by Eriyo Osakpamwan, ruling that the case had become academic and of no practical relevance. The court noted that the disputed tenure (2018–2023) had already elapsed and a new election had since taken place.
The panel held unanimously that the appeal had been overtaken by events and pursuing it further would serve no useful legal purpose.
In the lead judgment, Justice Mohammed stated “A suit is academic when it is of no practical value to the parties involved. The tenure in question expired in 2023, and a new leadership is already in place. This court cannot turn back the clock. Courts are not forums for academic debate, but for resolving live disputes with tangible legal consequences.”
Concurring, Justice Eberechi Nyesom-Wike said “The tenure of Alhaji Musa Mohammed, which is being challenged, elapsed in 2023, while we are now in 2025. This appeal is therefore of no utilitarian value to any of the parties. Even as at the time the appeal was entered in 2021, there was a live issue between the parties. I concur that the appeal, being academic, ought to be struck out.”
The dispute originated from a 2020 decision of the National Industrial Court (NIC), which nullified the emergence of Osakpamwan and Yusuf Ibrahim Adeniyi as National President and Secretary-General of RTEAN respectively. The court upheld RTEAN’s 2018 and 2019 National Executive Council (NEC) resolutions, recognising Musa Mohammed as the association’s legitimate president.
Osakpamwan subsequently filed an appeal on seven grounds but withdrew six, leaving only a jurisdictional issue — whether the NIC had authority to hear the matter without first resorting to conciliation or arbitration, as required by the Trade Disputes Act.
Although the Appeal Court agreed that conciliation ought to precede litigation under the Act, it ruled that the question had become moot since the tenure in question had already expired.
The decision marks the end of a five-year legal battle over the union’s leadership.
In his response, Musa Mohammed praised the judiciary for upholding the rule of law and commended RTEAN members nationwide for their loyalty and patience throughout the legal process.
“This ruling is a testament to the strength of our democratic institutions and the resilience of RTEAN’s internal governance. We are moving forward — united, focused, and ready to serve the interests of all transport employers across Nigeria,” he said.
He also extended an olive branch to past challengers and urged all members to work together in the interest of unity and progress.
“Let us put the past behind us and focus on building a stronger RTEAN that will contribute meaningfully to national development.”
In a separate statement, Deputy National President Muhammed Bishara reaffirmed RTEAN’s commitment to transparency, lawful governance, and the welfare of its members, pledging that the association will continue to act in the best interests of the road transport sector and its stakeholders.
