The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal challenging the legitimacy of Alhaji Ibikunle Tajudeen Baruwa as the President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), affirming the earlier judgment of the National Industrial Court delivered on March 11, 2024.
The appellate court, in its ruling on November 8, 2024, described the appeal as lacking merit and ordered the appellant to pay N100,000 in costs to the respondents. The court’s enrolment order read, in part:
“This Appeal is devoid of merit and the same is hereby dismissed. I affirm the Judgment of the Trial Court delivered on the 11th day of March 2024 in respect of Suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023. I award the cost of N100,000 against the Appellant and in favour of the Respondents.”
In response to the court’s decision, Alhaji Baruwa addressed a press conference in Abuja, condemning the purported inauguration of Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, as NURTW President. Baruwa described the action as a blatant violation of the law and an affront to the judiciary.
Baruwa accused Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin and his group of attempting to undermine the union’s constitutional framework and judicial rulings. He noted that MC Oluomo had ceased to be a member of the union after voluntarily resigning and publicly tearing his membership card in March 2021.
“There is no vacancy in the office of the President of NURTW, and the purported and illegal inauguration is null, void, and of no effect whatsoever,” Baruwa said.
He urged the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation to enforce the court’s judgment and prevent further actions that could disrupt peace and order.
Baruwa reassured members of the NURTW to remain calm while the union pursues legal avenues to address what he termed as a “serious threat to democracy and the rule of law.”
