Prominent human rights advocate and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has urged the Federal Government to immediately reinstate Comrade Tajudeen Baruwa as the President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), in compliance with court rulings affirming his leadership.
This call follows reports that Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo and a former Lagos State chairman of the union, was recently sworn in as NURTW President in Abuja, despite a Court of Appeal decision reaffirming Baruwa as the rightful leader.
In a statement released on Monday, Falana called on the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), as well as the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to enforce the judgments of the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal, both of which recognized Baruwa’s legitimacy.
Falana detailed how, on August 28, 2023, armed individuals stormed the NURTW National Secretariat in Abuja, leading to the death of a security guard and the forced eviction of Baruwa and his executive. Following the invasion, Baruwa and other executives were detained and faced charges of murder. However, the charges were later withdrawn, allowing the illegal takeover of the Secretariat to persist.
Seeking justice, Baruwa approached the National Industrial Court, which ruled on March 11, 2024, that he and his executive remained the duly elected leaders of the union. The ruling was upheld by the Court of Appeal on November 8, 2024, which dismissed the appeals filed against Baruwa’s leadership.
“The Justices of the Court dismissed the appeal and confirmed the judgment of the National Industrial Court, which had recognized Comrade Baruwa as the President of the NURTW,” Falana stated in his release.
Falana concluded by urging swift action from the Federal Government: “We call on the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector-General of Police 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.”
The legal expert emphasized that adherence to judicial rulings is essential to upholding the rule of law and maintaining order within the NURTW.
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