Olushola Omogbehin
The lingering battle of supremacy rocking the National Union of Road Transport Workers took a new turn on Monday as Tajudeen Baruwa assumed the control of the union’s national secretariat in Abuja after dislodging Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.
Addressing journalists after regaining control of the secretariat on Monday, Baruwa, said his actions were backed by two court judgments delivered in his favour.
According to him, the union formally notified the Nigerian Police, attaching copies of the court judgments to facilitate the recovery of its secretariat.
He said another letter that declared the intention of Baruwa to take over the secretariat and resume duties in line with the court rulings has been sent.
“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.”
The General Secretary, Suleiman Musa, said in spite of several appeals, the occupant of the premises unlawfully refused to leave.
“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 is contesting the NURTW leadership, had opposed the inauguration of Oluomo as the union’s new president.
The legal battle over the NURTW leadership has been on for months, with Baruwa consistently challenging moves that led to the emergence of MC Oluomo as president.
The legal battle became intense after the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal delivered judgments affirming Baruwa’s position.
In an earlier ruling in suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023, Justice O.O. Oyewumi of the National Industrial Court declared Baruwa as the duly elected President of the union.
The decision was later upheld by the Court of Appeal in Abuja in a judgment delivered on November 8 in the appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/293/2024.
The appellate court affirmed the lower court’s verdict delivered on March 11, 2024, which recognised Baruwa’s 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 other loyalists of MC Oluomo, describing it as lacking merit.
The court also imposed a cost of N100,000 against the appellants, reinforcing its stance on the matter and effectively strengthening Baruwa’s claim to the presidency of the union.
The appellants in the case included Yasin, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, Alhaji Aliyu Ore, Kayode Agbeyangi, Alhaji Alhassan Haruna 313, Aliyu Tanimu, and Alhaji Hakeem Adeosun.
On the other side were Baruwa, Bello Adamu, Eugene Job, Danjuma Saidu, Prince Isah Usman, Suleiman Adamu, and Odion Olaye JP, who were listed as respondents.
