Baruwa Ousts MC Oluomo as Head of NURTW, Assumes Command of Union Headquarters

The National Union of Road Transport Workers has witnessed a significant shift in power, as Tajudeen Baruwa has taken control of the union's national secretariat in Abuja, ousting Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, following a series of court rulings that have redefined the union's leadership structure.

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Baruwa, addressing journalists at the secretariat on Monday, stated that his actions were supported by two court judgments in his favor, and he was accompanied by supporters from across the country.

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The union formally notified the Nigerian Police of the court judgments, attaching copies to facilitate the recovery of its secretariat, but the responses were not encouraging, prompting the union to send another notice declaring its intention to take over the secretariat.

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Baruwa explained that despite repeated assurances that the union would not cause trouble, the police response was not encouraging, leading the union to take over the secretariat peacefully, in line with the court rulings.

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He stated that the union's takeover was not forceful, but rather a carrying out of the court's orders, and that they had obtained judgments at both the lower court and the Appeal Court, but the occupants had refused to obey court orders for about two years.

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Baruwa noted that although one of their members was attacked and is now in the hospital, the situation is under control, and the union is still open to reconciliation, emphasizing that they are a lawful organization and not troublemakers.

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General Secretary Suleiman Musa defended the takeover, stating that despite several appeals, those occupying the premises unlawfully remained defiant and refused to vacate, and that they had notified the police of their intention to return to their office.

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Musa said that the union was glad that journalists were present to witness the takeover, so that the world would know what was happening, and that they had notified the police of their return to the office.

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Baruwa, who is contesting the NURTW leadership, had opposed the inauguration of Oluomo as the union's new president, and the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal had prohibited interference in the operations of the Baruwa-led NURTW executive.

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The National Industrial Court, in a ruling delivered by Hon. O.O. Oyewumi in suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023, affirmed Baruwa as the duly elected President of the Union.

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The Court of Appeal in Abuja also confirmed Baruwa as the legitimate president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, in a judgment delivered on November 8, on the appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CV/293/2024.

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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 the appeal lacked merit.

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The appellate court upheld the industrial court's decision, which validated Baruwa's presidency, and awarded N100,000 in costs against the appellants, who are known loyalists of Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.

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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.

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The 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.