Baruwa Tells IGP, DSS To Eject MC Oluomo From NURTW’s National Secretariat

Comrade Tajudeen Baruwa, the President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to intervene and evict the current occupants of the union’s national headquarters.

Baruwa made this request through a press briefing conducted by his legal representatives, Babaleye & Co., in Abuja on Tuesday. During the briefing, Barrister Tolu Babaleye, the lead counsel for Baruwa’s faction, provided an overview of the ongoing dispute within the union.

The issue began after Baruwa was sworn in as the NURTW president in 2023, in line with the union’s constitution. However, a faction led by Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, a former president of NURTW, disagreed with the election results. This faction attempted to form a caretaker committee and used some members of the Nigerian Police Force and other individuals to forcefully remove Baruwa and his team from office, instead of seeking judicial resolution.

In response, Baruwa chose the legal route to affirm his presidency, filing a suit in the National Industrial Court. The court ruled in his favor, dissolving the illegal caretaker committee. Despite the judgment, Yasin’s faction appealed the decision at the Court of Appeal.

In November 2024, the Court of Appeal upheld the earlier ruling, affirming Baruwa’s legitimate position as president of NURTW and barring Yasin and his supporters from interfering in the union’s activities.

However, to Baruwa’s surprise, even before the Court of Appeal’s decision could be fully acknowledged, the inauguration of Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, as the NURTW national president was announced. This move blatantly disregarded the court’s ruling, which had confirmed that Baruwa’s term would run until 2027.

Despite addressing several letters to government authorities, including the IGP, National Security Adviser, DSS Director-General, Attorney General of the Federation, and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Baruwa’s faction claims there has been no significant action to resolve the situation.

Babaleye, on behalf of Baruwa, called on the federal government to act swiftly and prevent further disturbances by the individuals who have disregarded the court’s decision. He emphasized that Baruwa remains the only legally recognized president of NURTW and should be allowed to lead the union peacefully.