By Ranti Thomas
A court in Abuja has ordered officials linked to a faction of the National Union of Road Transport Workers occupying the union’s national secretariat to leave the office immediately.
The National Industrial Court gave the directive while delivering judgment in a case concerning the leadership and control of the union’s national office located in the Federal Capital Territory.
The court ruled that the leadership group led by Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa should take over the affairs of the union at the secretariat without delay.
The judgment was delivered on March 6, 2026, in a suit filed to determine who has the legal authority to operate from the union’s headquarters.
According to the ruling, those currently occupying the office through the faction must vacate the premises and hand over possession to the recognised leadership.
The court said the order also applies to any individual or group occupying the office through the defendants involved in the case.
The claimants who approached the court included Baruwa and several other union officials who argued that they were the legitimate leadership of the organisation.
They had asked the court to stop the defendants from occupying the office or presenting themselves as officials operating from the national secretariat.
After reviewing the arguments and evidence from both sides, the judge ruled in favour of the claimants.
The court further ordered that all documents, property and facilities belonging to the union inside the office must be handed over to the leadership recognised by the court.
It also restrained the defendants and their agents from collecting union tickets or other fees from members across the country.
The ruling is expected to return control of the Abuja secretariat of the transport workers’ union to the leadership recognised by the court.