The leadership crisis within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) intensified on Tuesday after the union’s National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, reclaimed the union’s national secretariat in Abuja following a brief takeover by a rival faction.
Akinsanya visited the secretariat to inspect damaged property after regaining control of the facility, according to a video shared by TVC on social media.
The development came hours after a faction led by Tajudeen Baruwa occupied the secretariat on Monday, claiming that court judgments had authorized the move.
Speaking to journalists after taking over the building, Baruwa insisted that his faction acted lawfully and in accordance with court orders.
“Their body language has not been encouraging despite repeated assurance that we are not going back to foment any trouble, as we are a law-abiding union whose only mission is to get back what belongs to us,” Baruwa said.
“But today, as you can see, we are taking over in a peaceful manner, and it is not a forceful takeover but just carrying out the court’s orders,” he added.
Baruwa explained that the faction had notified the police ahead of the action and submitted copies of the court judgments to facilitate the recovery of the secretariat.
According to him, the group had waited nearly two years for compliance with the court rulings before deciding to occupy the office.
“Our coming here after two years is to occupy our office, having obtained judgments at both the lower court and the Appeal Court, but they refused to obey court orders after waiting for about two years,” he said.
Baruwa also alleged that during the takeover process, a member of his faction was attacked and hospitalized, although he said the situation remained under control.
Despite the tensions, he stated that his faction remained open to reconciliation and emphasized that the union intends to pursue the matter through lawful means.
Akinsanya, however, rejected Baruwa’s claims, describing the occupation of the secretariat as a “forceful takeover.”
In a statement shared on his Instagram page, the NURTW president said he was not a defendant in the court judgment cited by the rival faction and confirmed that the ruling had already been appealed.
He added that a stay of execution had been secured, meaning the judgment cannot be enforced while the appeal is pending.
“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 statement said.
“The judgment has been appealed, and a stay of execution has been duly entered.”
Akinsanya also noted that he had not engaged with Baruwa or members of his faction due to the ongoing legal proceedings.
He assured union members that the situation remained under the control of security agencies and maintained that he remains the legitimate National President of the NURTW.
The union leader further urged members across the country to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding while the leadership dispute continues to unfold.
