The leadership crisis within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has taken a fresh legal twist as the FCT police command has charged the Tajudeen Baruwa-led faction to court on an alleged “self-help” attempt to reclaim the union’s national headquarters in Abuja.
The latest friction followed police operatives’ move to dislodge the Baruwa group at the NURTW headquarters in Garki, shortly after they had successfully gained entry into the union’s secretariat on Monday.
LEADERSHIP gathered that during the operation, several members of the union were reportedly assaulted and chased out of the premises, while key leaders, including Baruwa, were taken into custody.
Speaking exclusively to LEADERSHIP, NURTW general-secretary, Suleiman Abdulkadir Musa, insisted that the Baruwa-led leadership of the union holds a valid mandate to control the union’s national headquarters, citing a subsisting court judgement in its favour.
Musa maintained that the group acted on the strength of a judgement delivered by the Court of Appeal, which affirmed an earlier ruling of the National Industrial Court in March 2024.
He argued that the police charges were misplaced, stressing that the Constitution empowers parties to enforce valid court decisions.
“When we took over, the police came and chased us out. So many of our members were chased out; some were even beaten by the police. Those they invited went to the command, and after giving their statements, they felt they had to take us to court. So, we are dealing with the issue of the court now.
“We acted based on the law. Yet, they are accusing us of self-help, and once we are done, we will gather ourselves and decide on the next line of action,” Musa said.
The protracted leadership tussle within the NURTW dates back to 2023, when internal divisions led to the emergence of parallel leadership structures, with Baruwa and Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, laying claim to the union’s national leadership.
In March 2024, the National Industrial Court declared Baruwa the duly elected president of the union, a decision later upheld by the Court of Appeal in November 2024. The appellate court dismissed challenges filed by loyalists of MC Oluomo, reinforcing Baruwa’s claim to leadership and urging compliance with due process.
At the heart of the latest confrontation is the interpretation of a recent appellate court ruling issued in March, which the Baruwa camp said clearly restrained a rival faction from operating under the union’s name.
Baruwa argued that the judgement effectively reaffirmed his authority, prompting Monday’s move to assume control of the headquarters.
Reacting to the development, Oluomo rejected Baruwa’s claims, insisting the judgement had been appealed and a stay of execution duly entered.
“The attention of the national president, NURTW, Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, has been drawn to the forceful takeover of the union’s national secretariat by Mr Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa.
“He was not a defendant in the purported judgement. The judgement has been appealed, and a stay of execution has been duly entered. He has not engaged with Mr Baruwa or any individual, aware that cases are pending in court”, Oluomo said.
However, speaking exclusively with LEADERSHIP, NURTW general-secretary, Comrade Suleiman Abdulkadir Musa, dismissed claims by Oluomo that there was a pending appeal capable of halting enforcement.
According to him, the only appeal filed was against the interpretational of the March judgement, which his faction had already won.
“When we got that judgement, it clearly stated that the other group should vacate the office, stop issuing permits in the name of the union, and they were perpetually restrained from interfering with union affairs.
“The appeal they are talking about is on the interpretation delivered on March 6. According to them, they appealed that decision, but we have not received any such order, nor is there any stay of execution”, Musa said.
