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The court of appeal in Abuja has affirmed Tajudeen Baruwa as the president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
A three-member panel of justices led by Hamma Barka affirmed the March 11, 2024, judgment of the national industrial court in Abuja, which reinstated Baruwa for his second term as the union’s president.
O.O. Oyewumi, national industrial court judge, had affirmed the legitimacy of the zonal delegates conference, where Baruwa was re-elected on May 24, 2023.
Oyewumi also recognised the quadrennial national delegate conference held on August 23, 2023, as the valid assembly for inaugurating national officers.
Aggrieved, Najeem Yasin, Tajudeen Agbede, and others who claimed to be the union’s national leaders filed an appeal marked CA/ABJ//CV/293/2024 challenging the industrial court’s decision to recognise Baruwa as president.
However, in the judgment delivered on November 8, the appellate court dismissed the appeal and awarded N100,000 against the appellants.
“This appeal is devoid of merit, and the same is hereby dismissed,” the judge ruled.
“I affirm the judgment of the trial court delivered on the 11th day of March 2024 in respect of Suit No. NICN/ABJ/263/2023.
“I award the cost of N100,000 against the appellant and in favour of the respondents.”
The judgment of the court of appeal means that the election of Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, as president of the union stands nullified.
Akinsanya was the sole candidate in the election, which took place at the union’s zonal secretariat along the Osogbo/Ikirun road in Osun state on November 9.
He was sworn in on November 11.
Delegates from the four south-west states—Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti—participated in the election.
Tajudeen Agbede and Akeem Adeosun were sworn in as vice-president, south-west and trustee, respectively.
