NURTW Leadership Crisis Deepens as Baruwa’s Lawyer Demands MC Oluomo’s Arrest

The leadership dispute within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has escalated, with the legal team of Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa calling for the arrest of Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, over the ongoing tussle for control of the union.

At a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Baruwa’s counsel, Tolu Babaleye, insisted that his client remains the legally recognised National President of the union, citing rulings from both the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal. He argued that despite these judgments, enforcement has been stalled for more than two years.

According to the lawyer, the prolonged delay prompted Baruwa to take what he described as lawful action by moving into the union’s national secretariat earlier this week. He maintained that the takeover was peaceful and rooted in the need to assert rights already affirmed by the courts.

Babaleye, however, accused security agencies of acting inconsistently by arresting Baruwa instead of those allegedly occupying the office in defiance of court orders. He described the charge of public disturbance filed against his client as unjustified.

Disputed Takeover Sparks Security Intervention

Providing details of the incident, the lawyer said Baruwa entered the NURTW national office on March 23, 2026, without resistance and assumed control based on existing court rulings. However, the situation took a turn when law enforcement officers intervened.

Baruwa was subsequently arrested and arraigned, a move his legal team strongly criticised. They argued that the action contradicted the judgments already delivered in his favour.

The following day, tensions escalated further when security personnel reportedly escorted Musiliu Akinsanya into the same office, effectively reinstating him amid the leadership dispute. This development, according to Baruwa’s camp, undermines the authority of the courts and raises concerns about selective enforcement of judicial decisions.

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The lawyer described the involvement of multiple security agencies as troubling, warning that such actions could weaken public confidence in the rule of law.

Call for Presidential Intervention and Rule of Law

Baruwa’s legal team has now appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the matter. They urged the president to direct the Inspector-General of Police to enforce the existing court rulings, remove what they termed “illegal occupants” from the union’s secretariat, and restore Baruwa to office.

They also characterised the situation as a broader institutional issue, arguing that failure to enforce court orders sets a dangerous precedent. According to the lawyer, when authorities selectively obey judicial decisions, it undermines the legal system and erodes democratic principles.

Despite these claims, Musiliu Akinsanya has maintained that he remains the legitimate leader of the union, noting that the judgments cited by Baruwa are still being contested in court.

The crisis, which has lingered for months, continues to divide the NURTW and highlights deeper challenges around leadership legitimacy, judicial enforcement, and the role of state institutions in resolving internal disputes.