Foremost Human Rights Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to have Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, alias MC Oluomo, replaced by Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa as President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
A Lagos-based political loyalist of Tinubu, Musiliu Akinsanya, alias MC Oluomo, had recently been declared the NURTW President in a controversial election held in Osogbo, Osun State.
However, following a ruling of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, Falana said Baruwa was the rightful owner of the office and MC Oluomo as a usurper because the Appeal Court judgement had ruled the election as invalid.
The ruling was delivered by the trio of Justice Hamma Akawu Barka, Justice Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba and Justice Asmau Ojuolape Akanbi.
The appellate court in a unanimous judgement delivered on November 8, upheld the March 11, 2024 ruling of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, affirming the re-election of Baruwa as the National President of the NURTW.
Speaking in a statement on Monday, Falana (SAN), called on the “Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN and the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun to ensure that Comrade Baruwa is restored to his office in strict compliance with the judgments of the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal.”
He gave a genesis of the murky atmosphere facilitating the emergence of MC as leader of the NURTW.
Falana wrote: “On August 28, 2023, a gang of armed thugs invaded the National Secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers at Abuja. One of the security men guarding the said Secretariat was killed by the armed invaders.
“At the end of the violent invasion, the Secretariat was seized while the elected President, Comrade Tajudeen Baruwa and members of his Executive were arrested and charged with murder before a Magistrate Court in the Federal Capital Territory.
“However, the charge of murder was withdrawn and struck out after the successful but illegal seizure of the Secretariat!
“As a law-abiding citizen, Comrade Baruwa approached the National Industrial Court for legal redress. In a judgment delivered on March 11, 2024, the Court confirmed Comrade Baruwa and members of his Executive as the elected leaders of the NURTW.
“Dissatisfied with the judgment, the opponents of Comrade Baruwa appealed to the Court of Appeal. On November 8, 2024, the Court of Appeal delivered its judgment.
“The Justices of the Court dismissed the appeal and confirmed the judgment of the National Industrial Court which had recognised Comrade Baruwa as the President of the NURTW.
“In the Appeal numbered CA/ABJ/CV/293/2024 between Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin, Alh. Tajudeen Badru Agbede, Alh. Aliyu Isa Ore, Kayode Agbeyangi, Alh. Alhasan Haruna 313, Aliyu Tanimu, Alh. Hakeem Adeosun as 1st to 7th Appellants and Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, Bello Adamu, Eugene Eze Job, Danjuma Saidu, Prince Isah Dahiru Uman, Suleiman Adamu, Odion Olaye J.P and Chief Herbert C. Iwuji as the 1st to 8th Respondents, the three Appeal Court judges dismissed the Appellants appeal and awarded a cost of N100,000 against them.”
