The ongoing leadership tussle within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) reached a new climax on Monday as Tajudeen Baruwa assumed control of the union’s national secretariat in Abuja, effectively dislodging Musiliu Akinsanya following a series of court judgments affirming Baruwa’s leadership.
Addressing journalists at the secretariat, Baruwa, accompanied by supporters from across Nigeria, stated that his action was fully backed by legal directives.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
He added that while there was an isolated incident where one of their members was attacked and hospitalized, the situation remained under control. “We are still open to reconciliation as we are a lawful organization and not a troublemaker. No one is above the law,” Baruwa emphasized.
Suleiman Musa, the union’s General Secretary, explained that repeated appeals to the opposing faction had been ignored. “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,” he said.
Baruwa had previously opposed the inauguration of MC Oluomo as NURTW president. Earlier rulings from both the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal had prohibited interference with Baruwa’s leadership, validating him as the union’s lawful president.
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The National Industrial Court, in suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023, delivered by Hon. O.O. Oyewumi, affirmed Baruwa’s election. The Court of Appeal in Abuja, in appeal CA/ABJ/CV/293/2024, upheld the lower court’s judgment on November 8, 2024, confirming Baruwa’s presidency and dismissing an appeal by MC Oluomo loyalists.
A three-member appellate panel comprising Justices Hamma Akawu Barka, Nnamdi Dimgba, and Asmau Ojuolape Akanbi found the appeal lacking merit and upheld the industrial court’s decision, awarding N100,000 in costs against the appellants.
The appellants included Najeem Usman Yasin, Tajudeen Agbede, Aliyu Ore, Kayode Agbeyangi, Alhassan Haruna 313, Aliyu Tanimu, and Hakeem Adeosun, all associated with the MC Oluomo faction. Respondents in the case were Baruwa, Bello Adamu, Eugene Job, Danjuma Saidu, Prince Isah Usman, Suleiman Adamu, and Odion Olaye JP.
This development effectively restores Baruwa and his team to full control of NURTW’s national secretariat, marking a major shift in the union’s leadership landscape.