Justice Munta Abimbola of the Oyo State High Court has sentenced a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state, Mr. Akinwumi Adisa, to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour while he discharged four other accused persons. The accused persons were standing trial for the 2102 killing of Anwal Bala Shannon, a 500 level medical student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, at Iwo road area of Ibadan, the state capital.
While Olumide Oladeji, Sadeeq Adejide and Tajudeen Arowotosuna, the second, third and fourth accused respectively, were set free after the long trial that started in 2012, Adisa was not so unlucky as the trial judge found him guilty of the offense. It would be recalled that on the night of June 4, 2011 at about 9:30pm, some factional members of the Union, in a struggle to take over the control of Iwo Road motor park from the another faction shot sporadically into the crowd. In the ensuing melee, four persons were reportedly killed including Shannon.
The deceased, who was the President of the Medical Student Association of Nigeria, was in company of his colleagues who were returning from a programme at Osogbo to take a bus to Zaria. They were in the Iwo-road Motor park to board the Zaria bus when Anwal was shot.
Apart from the people killed, shops, vehicles and valuable property were also burnt down by the hoodlum
During proceedings, the second and third accused persons denied being at the scene of the crime on the said date. The third accused also brought two witnesses, his wife and a former federal lawmaker, to substantiate his claims. The federal lawmaker, Hon. Gbedemuke, who corroborated Arowotosuna’s claim, told the court that the accuse was enroute Abuja to honour an invitation to attend a burial ceremony at the time of the incident.
In his judgment, the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta, who discharged and acquitted the 2nd, 3rd and 4th accused persons on the ground that there was nothing linking them to the mayhem or the scene, however sentenced the 1st accused to a 25-year jail term. The 1st accused had told the court that he was at the scene of incidence but denied participating in the crime.
Tag: NURTW
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Death of medical student: NURTW member bag 25 year jail term
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Speed limit device deadline: We’ll comply, says NURTW,
AS the October 1 deadline by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) for installation of speed limiting device on commercial vehicles draws near, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have pledged compliance.
They directed their members to comply to avoid embarrassment from road safety officials.
Oyo State Secretary of NURTW Sunday Yeye and PTD President Otunba Salimon Oladiti said this in an interview with The Nation yesterday in Ibadan.
Yeye stated that they had directed all their members to comply and obtain speed limit in order to avoid embarrassment from the road safety officials from October 1.
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NURTW chief hails Ambode
Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos Chapter, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, has praised Governor Akinwunmi Amobode for consistently finding solutions to gridlock. He promised that the union and its members would support the government.
Agbede spoke on the inauguration of the Ketu- Alapere slip road. He said the slip road would immensely help to reduce hours spent in traffic by commercial drivers
“We are very grateful that the government has provided this facility. It will help our members. Already, we have mandated our members in Ketu- Alapere axis to ensure that the facility is judiciously used.
“We always engage our members in education and public enlightenment programmes. We equally send our Task Force men on the road to ensure that our people comply with traffic regulation. Our men are always at major junctions and intersections in the state to assist law enforcement agencies in controlling traffic, especially during peak periods. We are partners in progress with this administration”
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NURTW cautions against training conductors without drivers
The local chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW in Lagos State has condemned plans by the Ministry of Transportation to train bus conductors on how to curb the menace of bus robbers popularly known as “One Chance”
The ministry, in conjunction with the Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI), has spoken of plans to introduce a training and identification programme for bus conductors.
But the state NURTW chairman, Tajudeen Agbede, described the training and identification programme, as “a right step in wrong direction”
He said: “The action is right because the union will always support any move that will help to stop the menace of ‘One Chance’, but it is not possible to achieve any meaningful success in the programme without involving the drivers.”
Agbede expressed surprise that the ministry could be organising such a programme without the cooperation of the union
His words: “By nature of their operations, conductors are part and parcel of NURTW and it sounds illogical for anybody to be organising a programme for conductors without involving drivers.
“There two category of conductors; there some conductors that just doing it temporarily may be to raise funds for a project like payment o school fees etc and there some that are doing the job with the hope becoming drivers . It is the drivers that can identify his conductor.”
He condemned the plan to recognise conductors association, saying the step will lead hike in transport fare, as conductors may want to raise money to meet the demand from the mushroom association.
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NURTW to drivers: get correct vehicle papers
•Erring motorists to pay N20,000 fine
The Lagos State chapter Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, has urged commercial drivers to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition to avoid sanctions from men of the Vehicle Inspection Services (VIS) of the Ministry of Transportation
The VIO has introduced new e-billing system for various offences committed by motorists in the state.
Under the arrangement, motorists caught will be made to pay N20, 000 fine for each offence.
Such offences, according the VIO include driving with fake /forged drivers licence, cracked windscreen, broken head lamp, rear light and others.
Motorists can also be penalised for incorrect vehicle papers like insurance certificate, road worthiness etc.
The NURTW chief advised commercial drivers to ensure that all their papers are valid and up to date to avoid being caught on the wrong side of the law.
He appealed to men of the Lagos VIO to always be humane in theor dealings with the drivers.
“I want to make a special appeal to law enforcement agencies to always have consideration for our drivers. The must try to tamper justice with mercy, as it may not be easy to meet all the conditions.”
The NURTW boss also expressed reservation about the desirability of the Lagos Drivers ‘Institute to re-certify commercial drivers.
He said: “Though we welcomed the idea when it was first launched, making it an offence now is unfair, especially concerning the fact that majority of the drivers would have gone through certification by FRSC and VIS.
“I don’t think that certification by the institute should be made compulsory for commercial drivers; it is those who are about learning how to drive that should be encouraged to visit the institute”
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NURTW denies involvement in Oshodi clash
Reader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oshodi Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (a.k.a MC Oluomo) yesterday denied the involvement of his members in Tuesday’s clash that left many people injured.
The Nation reported yesterday that many people sustained injuries after NURTW members clashed with Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) men at Oshodi.
The clash that started on Tuesday night, continued till the wee hour on Wednesday as the groups, brandishing bottles, caused panic.
According to Akinsanya, the clash was between some boys in Orile-Oshodi and members of the OPC.
Akinsanya’s spokesman, Shamsideen Saliu, said Akinsanya’s wife, Modinat, was returning from an outing and decided to say ‘hello’ to a family member.
He said it was at that point that argument over the issue of parking and was settled before Mrs Akinsanya left.
During the argument, a man was said to have abused a woman, who later went to invite OPC members, some of whom are also transporters.
“She mobilised OPC members to the man’s house. While they (OPC) were about taking him away, some boys in the area (Orile-Oshodi) insisted that they won’t take him away. That was how the fight began,” he said.
The Nation learnt that it took the intervention of policemen from Akinpelu and Makinde Divisions, as well as the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) to restore normalcy.
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Scores injured as NURTW, OPC members clash in Oshodi
A CLASH between members of of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) clashed at Oshodi left many people injured on Tuesday.
The fight, which started in in the night, continued till the wee hours yesterday as the factions brandishing bottles and other dangerous weapons, took over the entire road, scaring motorists.
It was gathered that the crisis started after one of the wives of Musiliu Akinsanya (a.k.a MC Olomo), Modinat an NURTW leader at Oshodi, blocked the road with her car.
The woman, who was said to be driving, allegedly parked indiscriminately, obstructing other roads users.
Among those obstructed was an OPC member, who allegedly reacted in a way that prompted Mrs Akinsanya to invite some union members since her husband is out of the country.
An aide to Akinsanya told The Nation last night that his boss’ wife did not obstruct road users.
“She only parked by the road side to greet someone, leaving the way for other motorists but the OPC guy, who had had scores to settle with MC in the past came to harrass her. The guy seized the opportunity to vent his anger on MC wife,” he said.
Sensing danger, the OPC member was said to have also invited his colleagues who stormed the area armed with cutlasses and bottles.
It was gathered that many people were macheted while others were stabbed with broken bottles.
The OPC members, It was also gathered, destroyed some parts of Akinsanya’s hotel in Oshodi.
The Nation learnt that it took the intervention of policemen from Akinpelu and Makinde Divisions, as well as the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) to restore normalcy to Oshodi.
By the time The Nation visited the area, broken bottles still littered the road, while an Armoured Personal Carrier (APC) from the RRS as well as armed policemen were seen on ground.
Reacting to the incident, the Police Commissioner, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, said no life was lost.
He added that the command was on the trail of the hoodlums, assuring that they will be arrested.
According to Owoseni, the timely intervention of the police saved the day and prevented the hoodlums from wreaking havoc.
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NURTW, OPC members clash in Oshodi
… Several persons injured
Many people were seriously wounded on Tuesday after members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) clashed at Oshodi, Lagos.
The fight which started on Tuesday night continued till Wednesday morning as the factions brandishing bottles took over the main stretch of road that links Oshodi to other parts of the state.
The Nation gathered that the crisis started after one of the wives of MC Olomo, an NURTW leader in Oshodi, blocked the road with her car.
The woman reportedly parked her car indiscriminately on the road and obstructed other roads users.
Among those obstructed was an OPC member who allegedly went berserk, prompting the woman to invite thugs loyal to her husband to the scene.
Sensing danger, the OPC member also invited his colleagues who stormed the area with cutlasses and bottles.
Our correspondent gathered that the hoodlums macheted several persons, while others were stabbed with broken bottles.
It took the intervention of policemen from Akinpelu and Makinde Divisions, as well as the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) personnel before normalcy was restored to the area.
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Lagos NURTW disowns branch meeting with Customs
The Lagos State Council of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has disassociated itself from a meeting between officers of Mile12 branch of the union and Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Services
Some officers of Mile 12 branch of the Lagos NURTW (Perishable foodstuffs) led by its chairman, Mr Segun Ebiniyi, recently held a meeting with Seme Customs Area Comptroller David Victory Dimka during which some issues about the branch were discussed.
But Lagos state chairman of the union, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, said the branch officers were not qualified to hold such meeting as the issues raised at the meeting were supposed to be handled by the Lagos coordinator in charge of Heavy Truck Department, Comrade Richard Adeyanju, who was appointed by the National Headquarters.
He said the state council would direct the state coordinator to fix another time to meet the officers of the union for discussion on how to smoothen the relationship between the union and men of the Nigerian Customs
The Lagos NURTW boss warned members of the union to always get clearance from the state secretariat of the union before having such meeting or dealing with any organ of the government.
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Mile 12 NURTW leaders visit Custom Comptroller
LEADERS of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Perishable Foodstuff branch, Mile 12 Market, have visited the Area Comptroller of Customs, Seme Command, Mr David Victory Dimka.
According to the branch Chairman, Mr. Segun Ebiniyi, the visit was to enhance a good working relationship with command.
Speaking during the visit, the Mile 12 market consultant, Mr Femi Odusanya, used the opportunity to inform the comptroller of the challenges faced by the perishable transporters and traders, particularly on tomato transportation between the Republic of Benin and Nigeria.
In the union’s are: Alhaji Wasiu Quadri (Secretary); Alhaji Sule Dan Adawa (Finacial Secretary); Soye Tabiti (Treasurer); Rasheed Yusuf (Assistant Secretary) and representative of Oba of Kweme Kingdom, Mr Ayodele Joseph.