Amid the ongoing leadership dispute within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Tajudeen Baruwa has taken control of the union’s national secretariat in Abuja, displacing Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.
The development follows a series of court rulings affirming Baruwa as the legitimate president of the union.
Addressing journalists after the takeover on Monday, 23 March 2026, Baruwa, who was accompanied by supporters from across the country, maintained that the action was carried out in compliance with judicial pronouncements and not by force.
“Today, as you can see, we are taking over in a peaceful manner, and it is not a forceful takeover but just carrying out the court’s orders,” he said.
Baruwa revealed that the union had earlier notified the Nigeria Police Force of its intention to reclaim the secretariat, submitting copies of the court judgments to support the move.
He, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the response of the police, saying it was not encouraging despite assurances of a peaceful process, which led to a renewed notice before the eventual takeover.
“Their body language has not been encouraging despite repeated assurance that we are not going back to foment any trouble as we are a law-abiding union whose only mission is to get back what belonged to them,” he said.
He added that the union had exercised patience for two years after securing favourable judgments before deciding to physically occupy the office.
“Our coming here after two years is to occupy our office, having obtained judgments at both the lower court and the Appeal Court, but they refused to obey court orders after waiting for about two years. We decided to resume back at the office today without causing any violence, and here we are,” Baruwa stated.
Baruwa also disclosed that one of his members was attacked by the rival faction and hospitalised, although he noted that the situation remained under control.
“We are still open to reconciliation as we are a lawful organisation and not a troublemaker. No one is above the law,” he said.
General Secretary of the union, Suleiman Musa, backed Baruwa’s position, stating that those previously occupying the secretariat had ignored multiple appeals to vacate the premises.
“We have notified the police that, on the order of the court, we are coming back to our office today, and we are glad that journalists are here to witness it so that the world will know what is going on here,” Musa stated.
The takeover is supported by two key court rulings. The National Industrial Court, in suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023, delivered by Justice O.O. Oyewumi, recognised Baruwa as the duly elected president of the union.
This decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal in Abuja in a judgment delivered on 8 November 2024 in appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/293/2024, which dismissed the appeal filed by loyalists of MC Oluomo — including Najeem Usman Yasin and Tajudeen Agbede— for lacking merit and awarded ₦100,000 in costs against the appellants.
The three-member appellate panel, comprising Justices Hamma Akawu Barka, Nnamdi Dimgba, and Asmau Ojuolape Akanbi, affirmed the earlier ruling of 11 March 2024, effectively reinforcing Baruwa’s claim to the union’s leadership and bringing judicial closure to the prolonged dispute.
