Court Dismisses MC Oluomo Baruwa Affirms as President of NURTW
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has confirmed Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa as the legitimate President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
The court confirmed the Industrial Court’s judgement issued on March 11, 2024, regarding Suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023.
The court determined that the appeal submitted by Najeem Usman Yasin, Tajudeen Agbede, and others against the Industrial Court’s ruling that acknowledged Baruwa as President was unmeritorious and thus dismissed it.
A Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling in Appeal No. CA/ABJ//CV/293/2024, delivered on Friday, November 8, by a three-member panel comprising Justices Hamma Akawu Barka, Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba, and Asmau Ojuolape Akanbi, affirmed Baruwa as the bona fide and validly elected President of the union.
The appellate court granted N100,000 against the Appellant in favour of the Respondents.
The court enrolment order states, “THIS COURT ON FRIDAY THE 8TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2024”
“UPON REVIEWING the Record of Appeal compiled and submitted to this court along with the corresponding briefs of argument; AND AFTER HEARING from O. I. Olorundare, SAN, with F.T. Sotikare, Esq., and Jimoh Balogun,”
ABUJA DIVISION OF THE COURT OF APPEAL
CERTIFIED ACCURATE REPRODUCTION
Esq O. D. Emole, Esq 1. Yunanah Esq for the Appellants Tolu Babaleye Esq, alongside Adeniyi Adejoke Esq, Maku Oluwatoyin Esq, and B. T. Ataine Esq, represents the Respondents.
ALHAMDU S. UMARU HEAD PROCESS
HAMMA A. BARKA JUSTICE COURT OF APPEAL IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
This appeal lacks merit and is consequently dismissed.
1 confirm the Judgement of the Trial Court rendered on March 11, 2024, concerning Suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023.
I grant costs of N100,000 against the Appellant and in favour of the Respondents.
During a news conference in Abuja regarding the alleged inauguration of Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, as President of the union, Baruwa characterised the act as a flagrant violation and disrespect for the rule of law, constituting an affront to the judiciary.
He stated that the alleged inauguration was not only absurd but also an affront to the judiciary, as it contravenes the March 11th and November 8th rulings of the National Industrial Court and Court of Appeal, which prohibited the Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin directed intruders to refrain from disrupting the union’s operations and the daily management of Alh. Comrade Ibikunle Tjudeen Baruwa directed the National Executives of NURTW.
He stated that the NURTW is established by law, possessing an approved constitution that delineates the regulations for electoral processes into positions.
He urged the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation to intervene to guarantee the enforcement of the Court’s judgement in the interest of peace, order, tranquilly, and the rule of law.
The statement declared, “The law-abiding National Executives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) were shocked on Monday, November 11, 2024, upon reading with disbelief the news on social media regarding the alleged inauguration of Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, as the President of NURTW, in blatant violation of existing rulings from both the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal, issued on March 11 and November 8, 2024, respectively, which confirmed Alh. Comrade Ibikunle Tajudeen Baruwa as the legitimate President of the NURTW for a four-year term.”
The alleged inauguration is not only absurd but also a violation of the judiciary, contravening the March 11th and November 8th rulings of the National Industrial Court and Court of Appeal, which prohibited the interlopers led by Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin from interfering in the operations of the union and the daily administration of the National Executives of NURTW led by Alh. Comrade Ibikunle Tjudeen Baruwa.
The actions of Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin’s illegal organisation weaken judicial authority and pose a significant threat to democracy.
The NURTW is established by law, possessing an authorised Constitution that delineates the regulations for elections to union offices, which were egregiously overlooked.
“Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, known as MC Oluomo, has unequivocally forfeited his membership in the NURTW, as stipulated by the union’s Constitution, following his voluntary departure on March 9, 2021, during which he publicly destroyed his membership card.”
The office of the President of NURTW is not vacant; therefore, the alleged and unlawful inauguration is null, void, and without effect.
This facade, coordinated by Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin, the former President of the union who gained significantly from it, is an affront to the judiciary and our democratic institutions. Consequently, we will not passively observe as our union is usurped by a discontented faction led by Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin, who exhibits a blatant disregard for the rule of law in pursuit of their self-serving goals. Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin has completed two four-year terms as President of the union.
The Inspector General of Police is requested to utilise his authority to ensure the enforcement of the Court judgement.
The Attorney General of the Federation is requested to intervene promptly to ensure peace, order, tranquilly, and the rule of law.
“All members of our esteemed union nationwide are urged to maintain composure as we pursue all legal avenues to expel the interlopers led by Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin from the NURTW national headquarters.”
Court Dismisses MC Oluomo as NURTW President, Confirms Baruwa
The appellate court granted N100,000 against the Appellant in favour of the Respondents.
An archived photograph of Mr. Musiliu Akinsanya.
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has validated Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa as the legitimate President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
The court upheld the Industrial Court’s judgement issued on March 11, 2024, concerning Suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023.
The court determined that the appeal submitted by Najeem Usman Yasin, Tajudeen Agbede, and others against the Industrial Court’s ruling that acknowledged Baruwa as President was unmeritorious and thus dismissed it.
A Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling in Appeal No. CA/ABJ//CV/293/2024, handed on Friday, November 8, by a three-member panel comprising Justice Hamma Akawu Barka, Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba, and Asmau Ojuolape Akanbi, affirmed Baruwa as the bona fide and constitutionally elected President of the union.
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The appellate court granted N100,000 against the Appellant in favour of the Respondents.
The court enrolment order states, “THIS COURT ON FRIDAY THE 8TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2024”
“UPON REVIEWING the Record of Appeal compiled and submitted to this court along with the corresponding briefs of argument; AND AFTER HEARING, O. I. Olorundare, SAN, with F.T. Sotikare, Esq., and Jimoh Balogun,”
COURT OF APPEAL, ABUJA DIVISION
CERTIFIED ACCURATE REPRODUCTION
Esq. O. D. Emole and Esq. 1. Yunanah for the Appellants Tolu Babaleye Esq, along with Adeniyi Adejoke Esq, Maku Oluwatoyin Esq, and B. T. Ataine Esq, represents the Respondents.
ALHAMDU S UMARU HEAD PROCESS
HAMMA A. BARKA JUSTICE COURT OF APPEAL IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
This appeal lacks merit and is consequently dismissed.
1 confirm the judgement of the trial court rendered on March 11, 2024, concerning Suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023.
I grant costs of N100,000 against the Appellant and in favour of the Respondents.
While addressing a press conference in Abuja over the purported inauguration of Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya Alias (MC Oluomo) as President of the union, Baruwa described the action as blatant disregard and disrespect for the rule of law and affront to judiciary.
He said the purported inauguration was not only laughable but also an affront on the judiciary as it violates the March 11th and November 8th judgments of the National Industrial Court and Court of Appeal which restrained the Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin directed intruders to refrain from disrupting the union’s operations and the daily management of Alh. Comrade Ibikunle Tjudeen Baruwa directed the 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 the Inspector General of Police and Attorney General of the Federation to intervene to ensure the enforcement of the Court judgment in the interest of peace, order and tranquillity, and the rule of law.
The statement declared, “The law-abiding National Executives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) were astonished on Monday, November 11, 2024, upon encountering news on social media regarding the alleged inauguration of Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, as the President of NURTW, in blatant violation of existing rulings from both the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal, issued on March 11 and November 8, 2024, respectively, which validated the election of Alh. Comrade Ibikunle Tajudeen Baruwa as the rightful President of the NURTW for a four-year term.
The alleged inauguration is not only absurd but also a violation of the judiciary, contravening the March 11th and November 8th rulings of the National Industrial Court and Court of Appeal, which prohibited the interlopers led by Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin from interfering in the operations of the union and the daily administration of the National Executives of NURTW led by Alh. Comrade Ibikunle Tjudeen Baruwa.
The actions of Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin’s illegal organisation weaken judicial authority and pose a significant threat to democracy.
“The NURTW is a creation of the law with an approved Constitution that stipulates the guidelines for elections into offices of the union which were brazenly disregarded.
“It is an indisputable fact that Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, MC Oluomo has since lost his membership of the NURTW in line with the Constitution of the union having voluntarily exited the union in March 9th 2021 during which he publicly tore his membership card.
The office of the President of NURTW is not vacant; therefore, the alleged and unlawful inauguration is null, void, and without effect.
“This charade as orchestrated by Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin, the former President of the union who benefited immensely from the union is an insult to the judiciary and our democratic institutions. We will therefore not stand idly and watch our union hijacked disgruntle element lead by Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin who have no regard for the rule of law for their selfish interests. It is on record that Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin has served out his two tenures of 4 years per term as President of the union.
“The Inspector General of Police to kindly use his good offices in ensuring the enforcement of the Court judgment.
“The Attorney General of the Federation to kindly intervene immediately in the interest of peace, order and tranquillity, and the rule of law.
“All members of our great union across the country to remain calm as we explore every legal means towards ejecting the Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin led interlopers from the NURTW NHQs.”