Renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called on the Federal Government to promptly reinstate Tajudeen Baruwa as the President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), in compliance with court judgments affirming his leadership.
In a statement titled, “FG Should Restore Comrade Tajudeen Baruwa as President of NURTW Without Delay,” Falana directed his appeal to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
He emphasized the importance of respecting the rulings of both the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal, which had upheld Baruwa’s position as the union’s president.
Falana detailed the events leading to Baruwa’s ouster, starting with an incident on August 28, 2023, when armed thugs stormed the NURTW national secretariat in Abuja. “During the violent invasion, one of the security personnel guarding the premises tragically lost his life,” Falana recounted.
Following the attack, Baruwa and 21 others, including three national officers of the union, were arrested and detained by the police in September 2023. They faced charges of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, public disturbance, and conduct likely to breach the peace. The detainees were reportedly held at the infamous Abattoir facility in Guzape, Abuja, formerly used by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
Falana alleged that the attackers not only seized the secretariat but also orchestrated Baruwa’s removal from office along with his executive team. Although Baruwa and his colleagues were initially charged with murder, Falana clarified that the charges were eventually withdrawn and dismissed.
Seeking justice, Baruwa approached the National Industrial Court, which ruled on March 11, 2024, confirming him and his executive team as the duly elected leaders of the NURTW.
Falana revealed that Baruwa’s opponents challenged the Industrial Court’s decision at the Court of Appeal. Despite this, the appellate court, on November 8, 2024, dismissed the appeal and reaffirmed Baruwa’s leadership.
“The rulings of both courts are final and binding,” Falana stated. “It is imperative that the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police act without delay to ensure that Comrade Baruwa is restored to his rightful position in accordance with the law.”
He warned that failure to enforce the court’s decisions could erode public trust in the legal system. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” Falana remarked, urging the Federal Government to take decisive action.
Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo and a former Lagos State NURTW Chairman, was elected as the new national president of the union on November 10, 2024. Akinsanya ran unopposed in the election held at the union’s zonal secretariat along the Osogbo-Ikirun Road. Delegates from Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti states participated in the process.
