Despite Court Orders, MC Oluomo Boasts Only Tinubu Can Remove Him As NURTW Boss, Baruwa’s Lawyer Says

Barrister Tolu Babaleye, counsel to Comrade Ibikunle Tajudeen Baruwa in the ongoing National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) leadership dispute, has accused President Bola Tinubu of backing his ally, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, in the “illegal occupation” of the union’s presidency, despite a subsisting court ruling that removed him from office

Babaleye accused President Tinubu of encouraging MC Oluomo to flout court judgments and operate with impunity, noting that the alleged backing by the President has emboldened MC Oluomo to boast that only the President can remove him from the office.

Speaking during a press conference in Lagos, the lawyer expressed frustration over the persistent disregard for judicial authority despite a clear ruling recognising Baruwa as the legitimate NURTW President.

“In my experience as a lawyer, as soon as we get a judgment, we would congratulate the person who wins, especially if it is the judgment of the last court, because we can be sure it will be obeyed,” Babaleye said.

“But in this one, it has been very difficult. In fact, we have written to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) about this. We have written to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) about this. We have written to so many people on this matter. We even wrote to the National Security Adviser (NSA).”

He further disclosed that efforts to involve security authorities had yielded no concrete outcome, alleging that MC Oluomo ignored an official invitation.

“They (NSA) attended to our letter and invited MC Oluomo to Lagos, he didn’t come, his lawyer came. A date was given for him to return, but when I spoke with the people, they said he said they should not worry, that he would not return, and till today, we didn’t hear anything about that letter again,” he said.

“It is as if he is above the law. And the issue is that he has a father in Israel, because he has been dropping names with the Presidency.”

The lawyer also said that during a meeting with the Minister of Labour, MC Oluomo openly declared that his position in the union could only be altered by the President.

“When they met with the Minister of Labour, he said there openly that it is only the President of Nigeria that can tell him to vacate the office.

“That if he (President) tells him to vacate the office today, he will vacate today. What kind of impunity is that?” he added.

According to him, Baruwa’s camp has made several attempts over the past year to draw the President’s attention to the matter through petitions and media publications but received no response.

The lawyer said, “Close to a year ago, we called on the President. We have made a lot of newspaper publications, including The Nation newspaper where they told us that if it is published in The Nation newspaper, the President will read it. We published it there, yet, we did not see any result.

“We do not want to believe that the President is not aware of this. Because all those who are connected with this are mentioning the name of the President, that he is their father in Israel, and he is the one who is enabling this illegality. I choose not to believe.

“But the President will have to prove to us whether they are right or we are right. He should choose who is right among us.”

The lawyer also referenced recent public remarks by President Tinubu on the importance of the judiciary, urging him to match words with action.

“We note that only recently, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu spoke gloryingly about the place of the court and the rule of law as the pillars of democracy,” he said.

“The President cannot claim ignorance of what is happening in NURTW: the use of the Nigerian police, the Army and other security agencies to install unelected individuals into an office reserved by law for Comrade Ibukunle Tajudeen Baruwa, is a high level operation that requires executive coordination.”

The dispute over the leadership of the NURTW has lingered for years, with rival factions laying claim to the union’s top position, raising concerns about political interference, abuse of state institutions, and the erosion of the rule of law in Nigeria’s labour movement.

SaharaReporters reported on Tuesday that despite subsisting court orders removing MC Oluomo as President of the NURTW, security operatives comprising soldiers and police officers backed his takeover of the union’s national headquarters in Abuja by accompanying him there.

This followed the arrest of the court-recognised president, Baruwa.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, had on Monday acknowledged the existence of a court order.

However, it remains unclear why authorities allowed Oluomo access to the headquarters amid the legal rulings and disputes on its implementation.

Oluomo is a key ally of President Tinubu dating back to when the sitting Nigerian leader was governor in Lagos State.

He has been involved in many controversies before the latest incidents.

In a video seen by SaharaReporters on Tuesday, armed soldiers and police personnel were stationed at the NURTW secretariat as MC Oluomo 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, admitting the existence of a court ruling while 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,” the police statement read.

“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. (SaharaReporters)