Kehinde Fajobi
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on the Federal Government to reinstate Comrade Tajudeen Baruwa as President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
In a press release issued today, Falana urged the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to enforce court judgments affirming Baruwa’s leadership of the union.
Falana recounted the events of August 28, 2023, when armed thugs allegedly stormed the NURTW National Secretariat in Abuja, killing a security officer and seizing control of the premises.
Following the attack, Baruwa and his executive were arrested and charged with murder, but the charges were later dropped.
Seeking justice, Baruwa approached the National Industrial Court, which, in a March 2024 judgment, upheld his leadership.
This ruling was further reinforced by the Court of Appeal on November 8, 2024, which dismissed an appeal by Baruwa’s opponents.
He emphasised that restoring Baruwa’s leadership would uphold the rule of law and the integrity of the judiciary.
Read the full statement below;
FG SHOULD RESTORE COMRADE TAJUDEEN BARUWA AS PRESIDENT OF NURTW WITHOUT DELAY
On August 28, 2023, a gang of armed thugs invaded the National Secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers at Abuja. One of the security men guarding the said Secretariat was killed by the armed invaders.
At the end of the violent invasion, the Secretariat was seized while the elected President, Comrade Tajudeen Baruwa and members of his Executive were arrested and charged with murder before a Magistrate Court in the Federal Capital Territory. However, the charge of murder was withdrawn and struck out after the successful but illegal seizure of the Secretariat!
As a law abiding citizen, Comrade Baruwa approached the National Industrial Court for legal redress. In a judgment delivered on March 11, 2024, the Court confirmed Comrade Baruwa and members of his Executive as the elected leaders of the NURTW.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, the opponents of Comrade Baruwa appealed to the Court of Appeal. On November 8, 2024, the Court of Appeal delivered its judgment. The Justices of the Court dismissed the appeal and confirmed the judgment of the National Industrial Court which had recognised Comrade Baruwa as the President of the NURTW.
In view of the foregoing, we call on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN and the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun to ensure that Comrade Baruwa is restored to his office in strict compliance with the judgments of the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal.
Femi Falana SAN