The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has declared Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa as the legally recognised President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). The Court also okayed the judgement of the National Industrial Court delivered on March 11, 2024, in respect of Suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023, which declared Baruwa as NURTW president. The court held that the appeal filed by Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin, Alh. Tajudeen Agbede and others challenging the decision of the Industrial Court that recognised Baruwa as President lacked merit and therefore dismissed it. The three-member panel of Justices, Hamma Akawu Barka, Nnamdi Dimgba and Asmau Ojuolape Akanbi, consequently declared Baruwa as the legally elected President of the union. The appellate court also awarded the sum of N100,000 against the Appellants who are loyalists of MC Oluomo in favour of the Respondents. Baruwa at a press conference described Oluomo’s inauguration as not only laughable, but also an affront on the judiciary as it violated the March 11 and November 8 judegments of the National Industrial Court and Court of Appeal, which restrained the Yasin-led faction from interfering in the activities of the union and the day to day administration of Baruwa-led National Executives of NURTW. He said NURTW is a creation of the law with an approved constitution that stipulates the guidelines for elections into offices. He called on Inspector General of Police and Attorney General of the Federation to intervene to ensure the enforcement of the Appeal Court judgement in the interest of peace, order and tranquillity, and the rule of law.
For more clarification on the Appeal court verdict (1)
Justice O. O. Oyewumi held that the delegates’ conference across the six zonal councils held on May 24, 2023, where Baruwa emerged as President for a second term in office was valid.
Further clarifications for Appeal court verdict (2)
The presiding judge also restrained the former President of the Union, Najeem Yasin, who was the Board of Trustees chairman, from interfering in the day-to-day running of union affairs.
Clarifications on the Appeal court affirmation (3)
The court also validated the Quadrennial National Delegates Conference held on August 23, 2023, at Ta’al Hotels in Lafia, Nasarawa State where the president and other national officers were inaugurated.
Point(4) The Aims of posting all these is to educate those that are not in the truth pictures of what has happened from the beginning to where we are;
Oyewumi declared illegal, null, and unconstitutional the national delegates’ conference held on October 25, 2023, where the then Acting President, Isa Ore, and his National Administrative Council were said to have emerged.
Point(5)
According to the judge, there was no evidence of a crisis in the union.
Consequently, she held that there was no basis for the invocation of the ‘doctrine of necessity’ that led to the constitution of the caretaker committee.
Point(6)
The election that took place on November 9, 2024, which saw MC Oluomo emerge as the National President of the NURTW, is, therefore, null and void. Notably, the election was overseen by Aliyu Issa-Ore, the acting National President, whose own election was nullified by the National Industrial Court in March 2023. The Appeal Court has upheld this verdict.
