The leadership crisis within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) escalated on Monday as Tajudeen Baruwa assumed control of the union’s national secretariat in Abuja, displacing supporters of Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.
Baruwa’s move follows a series of court rulings that recognised him as the legitimate president of the union, bringing a new twist to the prolonged internal dispute.
Addressing journalists shortly after the takeover, Baruwa said the action was carried out in compliance with judicial directives and not through force.
“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,” he said.
He explained that the union had formally notified the Nigeria Police Force ahead of the move, submitting copies of the court judgments to facilitate a smooth process. However, he expressed dissatisfaction with the police response.
“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,” he said.
Baruwa added that his faction had exercised restraint for two years after securing favourable court decisions before moving to reclaim the office.
“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,” he stated.
He also alleged that a member of his group was attacked by the opposing faction and hospitalised, though he noted that the situation remained under control.
“We are still open to reconciliation as we are a lawful organisation and not a troublemaker. No one is above the law,” he added.
Corroborating his account, the union’s General Secretary, Suleiman Musa, said those previously occupying the secretariat had ignored repeated calls to vacate.
“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 stated.
The takeover is anchored on two major court decisions.
The National Industrial Court had earlier affirmed Baruwa as the duly elected president of the union, a decision later upheld by the Court of Appeal in Abuja on November 8, 2024.
The appellate court dismissed an appeal filed by loyalists of MC Oluomo as lacking merit, reinforcing Baruwa’s claim to the leadership of the union.
