The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has nullified the election of Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, as the National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
The court upheld the earlier decision of the National Industrial Court, which affirmed Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa as the rightful President of the union.
The three-member appellate court panel, consisting of Justices Hamma Akawu Barka, Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba, and Asmau Ojuolape Akanbi, delivered its verdict on Friday in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/293/2024. The court found no merit in the appeal filed by Najeem Usman Yasin, Tajudeen Agbede, and other appellants who sought to overturn the Industrial Court’s judgment recognizing Baruwa as the legitimate president of the union.
The court also upheld the ruling of the Industrial Court in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023, delivered on March 11, 2024, which had earlier resolved the leadership dispute in favor of Baruwa. Dismissing the appeal as baseless, the appellate court ordered the appellants to pay N100,000 in costs to the respondents.
This decision comes amidst growing tension within the NURTW, as MC Oluomo had recently been elected and sworn in as the union’s National President. His election was viewed by many as a controversial move, given the ongoing legal disputes over the union’s leadership.
In reaction to the judgment, Baruwa addressed a press conference in Abuja, where he criticized MC Oluomo’s actions as a direct affront to the judiciary and a blatant disregard for the rule of law. He described the election and subsequent swearing-in of MC Oluomo as acts of defiance that undermined the legal framework governing the union.
Baruwa further emphasized that the judiciary had spoken clearly on the matter, and any attempt to challenge the court’s decisions was not only futile but also detrimental to the unity and progress of the NURTW. He called on members of the union to respect the judgment and work collectively towards fostering peace and harmony within the organization.
The ruling is expected to settle the protracted leadership crisis within the NURTW, which has threatened to destabilize the union in recent months.
With Baruwa now firmly established as the legally recognized President, the union can focus on its primary mandate of advancing the welfare and interests of its members across the country.
