By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The crisis within the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) appears to be unabating, as its National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, took control of the union’s national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, March 24.
A video posted on X on Tuesday showed Akinsanya visiting the secretariat to assess damaged property after regaining control of the facility.
The takeover by Akinsanya comes barely 24 hours after a rival faction, led by Tajudeen Baruwa, occupied the secretariat on Monday, March 23, citing court rulings said to be in his favour.
Baruwa told journalists after arriving at the union’s national secretariat to take control that his actions were backed by valid court judgements.
He said following the court ruling, the union formally notified the Nigerian Police, attaching copies of the court judgements to facilitate the recovery of its secretariat.
However, he noted that the responses were not encouraging, prompting the union to send another notice a few days ago, declaring its intention to take over the secretariat and resume duties in line with the court rulings.
Baruwa further alleged that a member of his faction was attacked during the process, assuring that the situation is under control.
However, Akinsanya, in a statement posted on his Instagram page on Monday, described the incident as a “forceful takeover” and maintained that due legal processes were still ongoing.
He said he was not a defendant in the judgment relied upon by Baruwa and disclosed that the ruling had been appealed, with a stay of execution already in place.
The statement read, “The National President wishes to inform members of the union and the general public that he was not a defendant in the purported judgment.
“The judgment has been appealed, and a stay of execution has been duly entered. He has not engaged with Mr Baruwa or any individual, aware that cases are pending in court.
“The situation is under the control of security agencies. Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya remains the National President of NURTW.”
