The court of appeal in Abuja has affirmed Tajudeen Baruwa as the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) president.
A three-member panel of justices led by Hamma Barka affirmed the March 11, 2024, judgment of the National Industrial Court in Abuja. The judgement reinstated Baruwa for his second tenure as the union’s president.
O.O. Oyewumi, a national industrial court judge, recognised the legitimacy of the zonal delegates meeting, which saw Baruwa re-elected on May 24, 2023.
Oyewumi also recognised the quadrennial national delegate conference on August 23, 2023, as the proper assembly for inaugurating national officers.
Najeem Yasin, Tajudeen Agbede, and other alleged union national leaders filed an appeal titled CA/ABJ//CV/293/2024. The appeal dispute the industrial court’s decision to accept Baruwa as president.
However, in a decision issued on November 8, the appellate court dismissed the case and awarded N100,000 to the appellants.
The judge ruled:
“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.”
The court of appeals’ decision nullifies Musiliu Akinsanya, often known as MC Oluomo,’s election as union president.
The election, held on November 9 at the union’s zone secretariat along the Osogbo/Ikirun route in Osun state, included only Akinsanya as a candidate.
He was sworn in on November 11.
The election featured delegates from four south-west states: Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti.
Tajudeen Agbede and Akeem Adeosun were sworn in as vice presidents for the south-west and trustee, respectively.
