Appeal Court affirms judgment recognising Baruwa as NURTW president

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

The appellate court, in a ruling delivered on November 8, dismissed an appeal filed by seven individuals, led by Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, against the NICN’s decision. A three-member panel, presided over by Justice Hamma Barka, found that the appeal lacked merit and awarded a cost of N100,000 against the appellants in favor of the 14 respondents.

The appellants in the case were Alhaji Yasin, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, Alhaji Aliyu Ore, Kayode Agbeyangi, Alhaji Alhassan Haruna, Aliyu Tanimu, and Alhaji Hakeem Adeosun, while the respondents included Baruwa and other key figures from the NURTW.

Justice Asmau Akanbi, in the lead judgment, emphasized that the case was centered on the legality of the National Caretaker Committee, which the appellants had formed. She noted that the appellants had not denied the constitutionality of this committee, and the trial court’s decision was based on the strength of the respondents’ case.

Justice Akanbi further clarified that the appellants had not demonstrated any denial of fair hearing, ruling that all the issues raised in the appeal were resolved in favor of the respondents.

The ruling effectively affirmed the March judgment, which had validated Baruwa’s re-election as NURTW president for a second term. The NICN’s decision had also sacked the Alhaji Agbede-led Caretaker Committee and prohibited Alhaji Yasin from interfering in the union’s day-to-day activities. The appeal was dismissed, and the cost of N100,000 was awarded against the appellants.

This judgment follows a series of legal battles surrounding the leadership of the NURTW, with the Court of Appeal’s ruling confirming Baruwa’s presidency and reinforcing the legal legitimacy of the union’s internal elections.