The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Abuja has ordered officials of a faction of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) currently occupying the union’s national secretariat, including the present management team led by Musiliu Akinsanya, to vacate the office in the Federal Capital Territory.
The judgment also directed the claimants led by Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa to take over the affairs of the union forthwith.
Delivering judgment in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/203/2025 on March 6, 2026, Justice E. D. Subilim held that the defendants and anyone occupying the office through them must immediately vacate the premises and hand over possession to the recognised leadership of the union led by Baruwa.
The claimants in the suit include Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, Bello Adamu, Eugene Eze Job, Dajuma Saidu, Prince Isah Dahiru Usman, Suleman Adamu, Odion Olaye (JP), Chief Herbert C. Iwuji, and Muhammed Bello Madu.
Others are; Olajide Abideen Abimbola, Lekan Salami Folorunsho, Monday Eleazar, Comrade Chukwudi Asogwa, as well as the National Union of Road Transport Workers.
The defendants are; Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, Alhaji Tajudeen Badru Agbede, Alhaji Kayode Agbeyangi, Kayode Agbeyangi, Alhaji Alhassan Haruna, Aliyu Tanimu and Alhaji Haakeem Adeosun.
In the suit, the claimants had approached the court seeking orders restraining the defendants from occupying or parading themselves as officials operating from the union’s national office in Abuja.
Justice Subilim, after reviewing the arguments and evidence presented by the parties, ruled in favour of the claimants and directed the defendants to vacate the union office and cease further occupation of the premises.
The court also ordered the defendants to hand over all property, documents and facilities belonging to the union within the office to the recognised leadership led by the claimants.
It further restrained the defendants and their agents from collecting tickets or fees from union members across the states of the federation.
The judgment is expected to restore control of the union’s Abuja secretariat to the leadership recognised by the court.
