National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Musiliu Akinsanya, on Tuesday regained possession of the union’s national secretariat in Abuja following an earlier takeover by a rival faction.
Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, in a video posted by TVC on X, visited the secretariat to assess damaged property after regaining control of the facility.
The development comes hours after a faction led by Tajudeen Baruwa occupied the secretariat on Monday, citing court rulings said to be in his favour.
Baruwa while addressing journalists after taking control, insisted that his actions were backed by valid court judgments.
He had said, “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.
“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.”
Baruwa said the union had formally notified the police, attaching copies of the judgments to facilitate the recovery of the secretariat, but claimed the response was not encouraging.
“Again, please be aware that 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. We decided to resume at the office today without causing any violence, and here we are,” he said.
He, however, alleged that a member of his faction was attacked during the process.
“Although the other faction attacked one of our members, who is now in the hospital, the situation is under control. We are still open to reconciliation as we are a lawful organisation and not a troublemaker. No one is above the law,” Baruwa stated.
But Akinsanya in his reaction 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.”
He urged members of the union to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding as the dispute continues to unfold.
