Soldiers, police accompany MC Oluomo to reclaim NURTW secretariat from court-recognised president, Baruwa
By Ishaya Ibrahim
The President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has retaken control of the union’s secretariat, accompanied by security operatives comprising soldiers and police officers.
MC Oluomo stormed the secretariat of the union on Tuesday after the arrest of Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, the court-recognised NURTW president.
In a video circulating on social media, armed soldiers and police personnel were seen with MC Oluomo as he inspected the premises.
The development followed a confrontation on Monday between Baruwa, recognised by the court as the lawful president, and police operatives, who fired teargas at his supporters and allegedly shot one person during the incident.
The FCT Police Command defended its actions, stating that its presence at the headquarters was to restore order.
The command also confirmed that Baruwa had been arraigned in court, blaming him for attempting to enforce the judgment without “court sheriffs and other officials.”
“On 23rd of March 2026, at approximately 7:00 a.m., a distress call was received by the FCT Police Command reporting that about 300 individuals, armed with cutlasses, bottles, bows, and arrows, had stormed the NURTW headquarters along Sapele Street, Garki II, Abuja, and were removing items from the premises.
“In a swift response, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Isyaku Sharu, led a response team to the scene. Upon arrival, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were attempting to enforce a court order on the premises without the presence of court sheriffs and other officials.”
Police authorities further disclosed that several individuals were arrested and subsequently charged before Magistrate Court 1, Wuse Zone 2, on Monday.
Baruwa had arrived at the NURTW headquarters with supporters to enforce a judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which affirmed him as the legitimate leader of the union.
The court, in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/203/2025 delivered on March 6, 2026, by Justice E. D. Subilim, ordered officials of a rival faction, including those aligned with MC Oluomo, to vacate the national secretariat and hand over control to Baruwa’s leadership.
The judgment explicitly directed that the defendants, and anyone occupying the office through them, must immediately relinquish possession of the premises.
It also mandated the handover of all union property, documents, and facilities, while restraining the defendants from further acting as officials or collecting union revenues nationwide.
Before his arrest, Baruwa addressed journalists at the secretariat, insisting that his actions were lawful and backed by multiple court rulings.
Baruwa 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 belonged to them.
“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.
“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 back at the office today without causing any violence, and here we are.
“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 organization and not a troublemaker. No one is above the law,” he added.
