Three persons sustained injuries on Monday as rival groups within the National Union of Road Transport Workers clashed at the union’s national secretariat in Abuja.
The altercation erupted when a faction led by Tajudeen Baruwa attempted to assume control of the secretariat from loyalists of Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly called MC Oluomo, relying on court judgments said to have validated Baruwa’s leadership of the union.
Baruwa, who spoke with journalists shortly after the incident, accused the opposing camp of launching an attack on his supporters during the takeover attempt.
He alleged that the attackers wielded firearms and machetes, noting that one of his men suffered a deep cut to the ear and was taken to hospital, while two others also sustained injuries.
Despite the confrontation, Baruwa insisted that the move was a legitimate effort to enforce court rulings and not an act of force.
According to him, his faction had exercised patience for nearly two years, expecting compliance with the judgments, but decided to act after what he described as persistent disregard for the court orders.
He maintained that the union under his leadership remained law-abiding, adding that the action was aimed solely at reclaiming the secretariat in line with judicial pronouncements.
Baruwa further revealed that judgments from both the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal had affirmed him as the union’s president, but lamented that the decisions had yet to be enforced.
He said the Nigeria Police Force had earlier been notified, with relevant court documents submitted to facilitate the process, but expressed dissatisfaction with the response received, which he said necessitated a fresh notice before proceeding.
The clash highlights the deepening leadership crisis within the union, which has been characterised by prolonged legal battles and internal divisions.
Baruwa has consistently opposed Akinsanya’s emergence as president, citing court rulings backing his own claim to the position.
In suit NICN/ABJ/263/2023, the National Industrial Court had recognised Baruwa as the duly elected president of the union.
The decision was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, in a judgment delivered on November 8, 2024, affirming an earlier ruling of March 11, 2024.
A three-member panel of the appellate court dismissed an appeal filed by Najeem Usman Yasin, Tajudeen Agbede and others, describing it as lacking merit and awarding N100,000 in costs against the appellants.
Those listed among the appellants include Alhaji Aliyu Ore, Kayode Agbeyangi, Alhaji Alhassan Haruna, Aliyu Tanimu and Alhaji Hakeem Adeosun, all said to be aligned with Akinsanya.
Respondents in the case included Baruwa, Bello Adamu, Eugene Job, Danjuma Saidu, Prince Isah Usman, Suleiman Adamu and Odion Olaye.
