The leadership crisis within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) escalated on Monday as Tajudeen Baruwa assumed control of the union’s national secretariat in Abuja, effectively displacing Musiliu Akinsanya.
Addressing journalists at the secretariat after reclaiming control, Baruwa, surrounded by supporters from across the country, said his actions were backed by two court judgments delivered in his favour.
Following the court victories, he explained that the union formally notified the Nigerian Police, attaching copies of the judgments to facilitate the recovery of its secretariat.
However, he described the response as unencouraging, prompting the union to issue another notice declaring its intention to take over the premises and resume official duties in line with the rulings.
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.”
In support of the move, the union’s General Secretary, Suleiman Musa, stated that despite repeated appeals, those occupying the secretariat had refused to vacate.
Musa said, “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 has been contesting the NURTW leadership, had earlier opposed the inauguration of MC Oluomo as president of the union.
Prior to this development, both the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal had restrained interference in the affairs of the Baruwa-led executive.
In its ruling in suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023, delivered by Hon. O.O. Oyewumi, the National Industrial Court affirmed Baruwa as the duly elected president of the union.
Similarly, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, in a judgment delivered on November 8 in appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/293/2024, upheld Baruwa as the legitimate president of the NURTW. The decision reinforced an earlier judgment of March 11, 2024, which recognised his leadership.
A three-member panel comprising 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 validating Baruwa’s presidency.
The appellate court also awarded N100,000 in costs against the appellants, who are known loyalists of MC Oluomo.
