Tajudeen Baruwa has taken over the control of the National Union of Road Transport Workers’ national secretariat in Abuja, dislodging Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, after verdicts of court that reshaped the union’s power structure.
Baruwa, flanked by supporters from across the country, on Monday, told newsmen that his actions were backed by two court rulings given in his favour.
He said with the rulings, the union has informed the Nigerian Police, attaching copies of the court judgments to facilitate the recovery of its secretariat.
The new leader, however, said the police responses were not encouraging, prompting the union to send another notice a few days ago, that it was taking over the secretariat and resume duties in line with the court judgements.
According to Baruwa, “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 offices, 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 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.”
Speaking also, the General Secretary, Suleiman Musa, said those occupying the premises have refused to vacate despite several pleas.
“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,” Musa said
Baruwa, who is contesting the NURTW leadership, had opposed the inauguration of Oluomo as the union’s new president.
Both the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) and the Court of Appeal had stopped interference in the operations of the Baruwa-led NURTW executive.
It would be recalled that O.O. Oyewumi of the NICN passed a judgment in suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023, affirming Baruwa as the rightly elected President of the Union.
The appellate court in Abuja similarly ruled on November 8 on the appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CV/293/2024, with a certified true copy, that Baruwa is the legitimate president of the NURTW, to confirm the lower court’s judgement delivered on March 11, 2024.
A three-member panel comprising Justices Hamma Akawu Barka, Nnamdi Dimgba, and Asmau Ojuolape Akanbi rejected the appeal Najeem Usman Yasin, Tajudeen Agbede, and others filed by saying the appeal has no merit.
It, therefore, supported the industrial court’s decision, which validated Baruwa’s presidency and further awarded N100,000 in costs against the appellants, who are known loyalists of Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.
The appellants in the appeal (who were defendants before the NICN) are Yasin, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, Alhaji Aliyu Ore, Kayode Agbeyangi, Alhaji Alhassan Haruna 313, Aliyu Tanimu and Alhaji Hakeem Adeosun.
Respondents in the appeal (who were claimants before the NICN) are Baruwa, Bello Adamu, Eugene Job, Danjuma Saidu, Prince Isah Usman, Suleiman Adamu and Odion Olaye JP.
