NURTW crisis deepens as Baruwa takes over secretariat, displaces MC Oluomo

• The leadership crisis deepens within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) as Tajudeen Baruwa takes control of the Abuja national secretariat
• The move effectively displaced Musiliu Akinsanya from the union’s leadership structure
• Baruwa cited two court rulings (Industrial Court and Court of Appeal) affirming him as president

A fresh twist has emerged in the leadership crisis rocking the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), as Tajudeen Baruwa has taken control of the union’s national secretariat in Abuja, effectively displacing Musiliu Akinsanya, widely known as MC Oluomo.

Baruwa, who arrived at the secretariat on Monday, March 23, with supporters from different parts of the country, told journalists that his return was backed by two court rulings affirming his leadership.

After securing victory in court, he explained that the union formally notified the Nigerian Police, attaching copies of the judgments to enable a smooth handover of the secretariat.

However, he said the response from security authorities was not encouraging, prompting a follow-up notice declaring their intention to reclaim the office.

Baruwa maintained that the move was lawful and peaceful.

“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.”

Backing the action, the union’s General Secretary, Suleiman Musa, said repeated appeals to those occupying the secretariat had failed.

“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.”

The dispute stems from Baruwa’s opposition to the inauguration of MC Oluomo as the union’s president.

Court rulings have consistently favoured Baruwa. The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, in suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023, delivered by Justice O.O. Oyewumi, affirmed him as the duly elected president of the union.

Similarly, the Court of Appeal Nigeria upheld this decision in a judgment delivered on November 8 in appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/293/2024, confirming Baruwa as the legitimate NURTW president.

The appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by Najeem Usman Yasin, Tajudeen Agbede, and others, considered loyalists of MC Oluomo, ruling that it lacked merit. It also upheld the earlier judgment delivered on March 11, 2024, and awarded N100,000 in costs against the appellants.