The leadership crisis within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) escalated on Monday after Tajudeen Baruwa assumed control of the union’s national secretariat, displacing Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, on the strength of court-backed claims.
Baruwa maintained that his return to the office was backed by valid judicial decisions, stressing that his actions were lawful and necessary to restore the union’s leadership structure. He explained that repeated efforts to secure compliance through official channels, including communication with law enforcement authorities, yielded no satisfactory outcome, prompting the decision to enforce the judgments.
The development unfolded in Abuja, where Baruwa, accompanied by supporters from different parts of the country, addressed journalists shortly after resuming control of the secretariat.
According to him, “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 added, “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.”
Baruwa further stated, “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.”
Also speaking, the union’s General Secretary, Suleiman Musa, said, “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.”
Court rulings by the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal had earlier affirmed Baruwa’s leadership, dismissing challenges from rival figures and awarding costs of N100,000 against the appellants, thereby reinforcing his claim to the union’s presidency.
