Tag: NURTW

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the March 11 judgment by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), recognising Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa as the president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

A three-member panel, presided over by Justice Hamma Barka dismissed an appeal filed against the NICN’s judgment by seven individuals led by Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin.

In the judgment, delivered on November 8 on the appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CV/293/2024, a certified true copy (CTC) of which The Nation sighted on Tuesday, the appellate court held that the appeal was devoid of merit.

The Court of Appeal resolved the three issues, identified for determination, against the appellants and awarded a cost of N100,000 against the seven appellants, in favour of the 14 respondents.

Appellants in the appeal (who were defendants before the NICN) are Yasin, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, Alhaji Aliyu Ore, Kayode Agbeyangi, Alhaji Alhassan Haruna 313, Aliyu Tanimu and Alhaji Hakeem Adeosun.

Respondents in the appeal (who were claimants before the NICN) are Baruwa, Bello Adamu, Eugene Job, Danjuma Saidu, Prince Isah Usman, Suleiman Adamu and Odion Olaye JP.

Others are Chief Herbert Iwuji, Muhammed Maduganari, Olajide Abimbola, Lekan Folorunso, Monday Eleazar, Comrade Chukwudi Asogwa and the NURTW.

In the lead judgment, Justice Asmau Akanbi said: “I restate that the respondents’ case (at the trial court) was on the legality of the constitution of National Caretaker Committee, which the respondents showed, through their affidavits and documentary evidence that the appellants constituted.

“This fact was not denied by the appellants. What the trial court did was to determine the constitutionality of the Caretaker Committee and subsequent zonal and national conferences organized by the appellants in October 2023.

“I, therefore, find it hard to agree with the appellants’ counsel that the reliefs were granted on the weakness of the appellants’ case. The reliefs were rather granted on the strength of the case made by the respondents.

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“On the denial of fair hearing by the grant of the reliefs, I have earlier found that the appellants were not denied fair hearing by the trial court.

“The appellants have clearly not shown how the grant of the reliefs by the trial court denies them their right to a fair hearing.

“Again, | resolve this issue in favour of the respondents. On the whole, all the issues are resolved against the appellants and in favour of the respondents.

“The appeal is devoid of merit and the same is hereby dismissed. | affirm the Judgment of the trial court delivered on the 11th day of March 2024 in respect of suit No: NICN/ABJ/263/2023.

“| award the cost of N100,000 against the appellants and in favour of the respondents,” Justice Akanbi said.

Justices Barka and Nnamdi Dimgba, who were also on the panel, agreed with the lead judgment.

Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi had, in the judgment of March 11 on the suit marked: NICN/ABJ/263/2024 held that Baruwa was validly elected the President of the NURTW for the second term.

Justice Oyewumi issued an order sacking the Alhaji Agbede-led Caretaker Committee and restrained Alhaji Yasin (a former President of the NURTW and Chairman of the union’s Board of Trustees) from further interfering in the day-to-day running of the union.

The judge held that Yasin can only act as the Board chairman of the transport union.

Justice Oyewumi, who is now of the Court of Appeal, also held that the zonal delegates’ conference held across the six zonal councils of the union on 24th May 2023, where Baruwa emerged as President for a second term, was valid.

The judge equally validated the quadrennial national delegate conference held on August 23rd, 2023 at Ta’al Hotels, Lafia, Nasarawa State, where the President and other national officers emerged and were inaugurated.

Justice Oyewumi declared as illegal and unconstitutional, the national delegates’ conference held on October 25, 2023, where Alhaji Isa Ore purportedly emerged as the union’s Acting President and his supposed National Administrative Council constituted.

The judge held that there was no evidence of crisis in the union, adding that therefore there was no basis for the invocation of the “doctrine of necessity” which led to the constitution of the purported Caretaker Committee.

The National body of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has sworn in Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle (Aka Sego) as the Chairman of the NURTW Lagos State Council.

This was followed by the inauguration of Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya as the national president of the union.

Amidst jubilation by the crowd of union members, Adekunle, who was Treasurer and Acting Chairman, assumed the role of substantive Chairman following his sworn in.

The National body represented by four national officers dissolved the Adekunle-led Caretaker Team before announcing names of the new executive members.

National President of the NURTW Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (aka MC Oluomo) said the event was a testament of the resolve to take the union to the next level and in conformity with the dictates of the union

Represented by South East Vice President Chief Anthony Ewa, Akinsanya urged Adekunle-led exco to carry others along.

He urged him to run an open administration that will be devoid of victimisation and committed to fairness, equity and justice.

Read Also: Bereaved NURTW families get N40m

Representatives of the Lagos State Government Olasunkanmi Ojowuro and police Adekola Oguntola urged the new exco to sustain the good rapport enjoyed by the bodies and the union.

Legal Officer Saheed Ajetunmobi led Adekunle and other exco members in taking the Oath of Office.

Adekunle thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Oba Rilwan Akiolu and other eminent personalities for their support.

He promised to make the union bigger.

He said his dream to lead the union has come true.

He thanked all those who supported him to make his ambition a reality.

National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State has presented cheques of N1.5 million each to families of 25 deceased officers at an empowerment programme.

One million naira was also given to a widow of another late member, whose family was not invited for the event.

The late officials had served the union as executive members and trustees.

Presenting the cheques, Chairman, Alhaji Adekunle Adio, also Sego, said he was moved by the spirit of empathy to come up with the idea and that he would continue to support families of deceased; old or vulnerable members.

Sego commended pioneer leaders of the union, promising he would actualise their dreams by catering to the welfare of members.

He noted that the beneficiaries are families of late executives, who died between January and October, including branch and zonal chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries, treasurers, trustees and others.

“We are giving out the money without sentiments, whether the deceased married one, two or three wives, there is no discrimination, it is a flat rate of N1.5 million each.

“What we are doing is not in our constitution, but we need to assist the family of our late officials. Our government is for the people.

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“We have met with the family of the deceased and we have agreed on who would collect the N1.5 million on behalf of each of them. This is our first major programme, we still have more. They will get the bank alerts today.

“I don’t have personal money to give, what we are giving is from the union. We spend our money to support our people, the state and nation. We don’t throw money around like some do,” he said.

There was a mild drama when a widow of a deceased official, Olufunmilayo, from Ikorodu, Wasiu Ogunbunmi, protested as the cheque of her husband was not given to any beneficiary.

The woman told the gathering she was the third wife of the deceased and that her son was his youngest child.

Reacting, Sego said although the money given out belongs to the union, he would personally give her one million naira for their suppor.

The event was held at Oko Oba secretariat of the union.