Triple injury toll as rival NURTW groups engage in violent struggle for control of Abuja headquarters

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No fewer than three persons sustained injuries on Monday following a clash between rival factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) during a move to take over the union’s national secretariat in Abuja.

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The faction led by Tajudeen Baruwa had moved to reclaim the secretariat, dislodging supporters of Musiliu Akinsanya, following court rulings said to be in Baruwa’s favour recognising him as national chairman.

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Speaking with journalists after the incident, Baruwa alleged that members of the rival faction attacked his supporters during the exercise.

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“They wounded three people. We saw them with guns and machetes, and one of them macheted a man on his ear. We have taken the man to the hospital. That is the only resistance that we have today,” he said.

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Despite the violence, Baruwa maintained that the move was a peaceful enforcement of court judgments.

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According to him, the action followed about two years of waiting for compliance with judicial pronouncements.

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“They have not shown encouraging body language despite repeated assurances that we are not here to foment trouble. We are a law-abiding union whose only aim is to recover what belongs to us.

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“As you can see, we are taking over in a peaceful manner. This is not a forceful takeover but an implementation of court orders,” he said.

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He added that the faction had obtained judgments from both the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal affirming his leadership, but the rulings had not been implemented for about two years.

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“Our coming here after two years is to occupy our office following judgments delivered in our favour. Despite waiting, they refused to obey the court orders, so we decided to resume at the secretariat,” he said.

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Baruwa explained that the union had earlier notified the Nigeria Police Force, attaching copies of the court rulings to facilitate the recovery of the secretariat.

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He, however, said the police response was not encouraging, prompting his faction to issue a fresh notice before proceeding.

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The incident marks a fresh escalation in the ongoing leadership crisis within the union, which has been characterised by factional disputes and legal battles over control of its structures.

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Baruwa, who is contesting the leadership of the NURTW, had opposed the inauguration of Oluomo as the union’s new president.

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The National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal had earlier issued rulings prohibiting interference with the operations of the Baruwa-led executive.

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In suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023, the National Industrial Court, presided over by Justice O.O. Oyewumi, affirmed Baruwa as the duly elected president of the union.

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Similarly, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, in a judgment delivered on November 8 in appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/293/2024, upheld Baruwa’s position as the legitimate president.

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The appellate court’s decision affirmed an earlier ruling delivered on March 11, 2024, recognising Baruwa as the union’s president.

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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, describing it as lacking merit and awarding N100,000 in costs against the appellants.

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The appellants, loyalists of Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, included Yasin, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, Alhaji Aliyu Ore, Kayode Agbeyangi, Alhaji Alhassan Haruna (313), Aliyu Tanimu, and Alhaji Hakeem Adeosun.

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Respondents in the appeal, who were claimants at the lower court, included Baruwa, Bello Adamu, Eugene Job, Danjuma Saidu, Prince Isah Usman, Suleiman Adamu, and Odion Olaye (JP).

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