Baruwa reclaims NURTW secretariat after court rulings
Tajudeen Baruwa has assumed control of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) national secretariat in Abuja, dislodging Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, following a series of court rulings affirming Baruwa as the union’s legitimate president.
Speaking to journalists after taking over the secretariat on Monday, Baruwa said his actions were guided by judgments from both the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal. He noted that repeated notices to the police and assurances of peaceful conduct had been met with little cooperation, prompting the union to resume office in line with court orders.
Baruwa said: “Our coming here after two years is to occupy our office, having obtained judgments at both the lower court and the Court of Appeal. We decided to resume today without causing any violence. Although one of our members was attacked and hospitalized, the situation is under control. We are open to reconciliation as we are a lawful organization.”
General Secretary Suleiman Musa added that the unlawful occupation of the premises by the opposing faction left the union with no choice but to enforce the court’s orders.
Earlier rulings by the National Industrial Court (suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023) delivered by Hon. O.O. Oyewumi and the Court of Appeal (CA/ABJ/CV/293/2024) confirmed Baruwa as the duly elected president. The appellate court dismissed an appeal by loyalists of MC Oluomo, including Najeem Usman Yasin and Tajudeen Agbede, and awarded N100,000 in costs against the appellants.
The appellate court upheld the lower court’s decision, reinforcing Baruwa’s leadership of the union and barring interference with the operations of the Baruwa-led NURTW executive.
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