Abuja Division Of The Appeal Court Sacks MC Oluomo As NURTW President

The Appeal Court in Abuja has made a landmark decision, declaring Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa as the legitimate president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). This ruling has effectively sacked Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, as the NURTW national president.

The court's decision upholds an earlier judgment delivered by the National Industrial Court on March 11, 2024, which recognized Baruwa as the union's president. A three-member panel comprising Justices Hamma Akawu Barka, Nnamdi Dimgba, and Asmau Ojuolape Akanbi dismissed the appeal filed by Najeem Usman Yasin, Tajudeen Agbede, and others, ruling that the appeal lacked merit.

In a press conference following the ruling, Baruwa described MC Oluomo's self-declared inauguration as NURTW president as "an affront on the judiciary". He emphasized that the act contravened both the March 11 and November 8 judgments by the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal, which had prohibited interference in the operations of the Baruwa-led NURTW executive.

Baruwa urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to enforce the court's judgment to ensure compliance and maintain peace and order.

The development comes after MC Oluomo was elected as the president of NURTW on Saturday, securing unanimous votes from all delegates in the Union's Quadrennial Delegate Conference for Zone 2 Council of the Union, held in Osogbo, Osun State.

However, the appellate court's unanimous judgment delivered on Friday, November 8, affirmed the March 11, 2024 ruling of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, affirming the re-election of Tajudeen Baruwa as the National President of the NURTW.

The court's decision has significant implications for the NURTW and its members, as it validates Baruwa's leadership and undermines MC Oluomo's claim to the presidency. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the parties involved will respond to the court's ruling.