Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command arrested Tajudeen Baruwa on Monday after he led members of his faction to reclaim the national secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) from his rival, Ayinde Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.
The arrest took place as Baruwa and his supporters arrived at the NURTW national headquarters in Abuja to enforce a court ruling that recognised him as the legitimate president of the union.
As gathered, the situation, turned chaotic, with one supporter shot and several others assaulted by police officers, who also used teargas to disperse the crowd.
The leadership dispute between Baruwa and MC Oluomo has persisted since 2024, following MC Oluomo’s election as NURTW National President in November of that year. The conflict eventually escalated into a lawsuit, which the courts resolved in Baruwa’s favour.
In a judgment delivered on March 6, 2026, Justice E. D. Subilim of the National Industrial Court (Suit No. NICN/ABJ/203/2025) ordered that Baruwa and his team take immediate control of the union’s affairs.
The court directed the defendants, including MC Oluomo and other officials, to vacate the secretariat, hand over all union property and documents, and cease any collection of tickets or levies from members.
Despite the court’s ruling, the FCT Police Command allegedly deployed officers to the secretariat, preventing Baruwa from assuming office and enforcing the judgment, prompting his faction to attempt the takeover that led to his arrest.
