MC Oluomo defies a court ruling and assumes office as the NURTW President, despite the Court of Appeal nullifying his election and recognizing Ibikunle Baruwa as the legitimate leader. The court had previously upheld Baruwa’s leadership and fined MC Oluomo, prompting calls for enforcement of the decision.
On Tuesday, Musiliu "MC Oluomo" Akinsanya controversially resumed his role as the National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), despite a recent ruling by the Court of Appeal that nullified his election.
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, had previously affirmed Ibikunle Baruwa as the rightful leader of the union. This decision followed a legal battle that saw Baruwa's position upheld after the National Industrial Court ruled in his favor in March 2024. The appellate panel, consisting of Justices Hamma Akawu Barka, Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba, and Asmau Ojuolape Akanbi, not only reinstated Baruwa as president but also imposed a N100,000 fine on MC Oluomo.
This is the first time MC Oluomo has publicly taken office since the court's decision. The ruling had prompted human rights lawyer Femi Falana to call for immediate enforcement, urging the federal government to restore Baruwa to his leadership role. Falana also appealed to the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Inspector-General of Police to take necessary action to uphold the legal judgment and ensure the compliance of all parties involved.
MC Oluomo, who was elected unopposed as NURTW president at the union’s zonal secretariat in Osogbo, now faces the legal implications of defying the court order, with calls for swift intervention by the authorities.
