The presumed crisis rocking the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) is losing its weight as the former National Secretary of the Union from 2019 to 2023, Comrade Uwem James notified the Inspector of Police, Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Chief Justice of the Federation and others over the notice of court cases in respect of the leadership of the NURTW seeking an appeal for restrain of any move to enforce any court judgement on the union pending the determination of the cases.
Comrade Uwem James in a press release signed and obtained by FRESHPAGE draw the attention of key stakeholders to the issues on NURTW leadership crises with contentious matters pending in the court. Comrade James said there is need to exercise restraint on any move to enforce a diversionary court judgment obtained by Alhaji Ibikunle Baruwa through challenging the wrong parties on divergent issues on the Union, while the main cases challenging his election and eligibility is pending in court.
Except of the press release:
NOTICE OF PENDENCY OF COURT CASES IN RESPECT OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF ROAD TRANSPORT WORKERS (NURTW):
AN APPEAL FOR RESTRAINT ON ANY MOVE TO ENFORCE ANY COURT JUDGEMENT ON THE UNION PENDING THE DETERMINATION OF THE CASES
I am Comrade Uwem James, the National Financial Secretary of NURTW from 2019 to 2023 tnure when Alh. Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa was the President.
Present, I am the 1st Claimant in Suit N0. NICN/UY/27/2023: COMRADE UWEM JAMES & R ORS V. NATIONAL UNION OF ROAD TRANSPORT WORKERS, TAJUDEEN IBIKUNLE BARUWA & 2 ORS now pending at Court 2 of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division and I write on behalf of other Claimants in the above-captioned suit.
Our attention has been drawn to a press release by Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa’s lawyers asking the Inspector General of Police and the Nigeris Police, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR and the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to direct the enforcement of one Court judgment of which we are not part of.
We humbly write to draw your attention and that of your good offices to the issues on NURTW leadership crises with the contentious matters pending in court and the need to exercise restraint on any move to enforce a diversionary court judgment (obtained by Alh. Ibikunle Baruwa through challenging the wrong parties on divergent issues) on the Union, while the main cases challenging his election and eligibility is pending in court. To this end, it must be stated that:
i. The National Vice-President of the Union during the 2019-2023 tenure, Alhaji Tajudeen Badru Agbede and five other officers of the Union had, on 12th April, 2023 filed an action in Suit No. NICN/LA/111/2023: CHIEF TAJUDEEN BADRU AGBEDE & 5 ORS V. ALHAJI TAJUDEEN IBIKUNLE BARUWA & ANOR. At the Lagos Division of the National Industrial Court challenging the legality of holding of office by Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa on the ground that he had ceased to be eligible to hold office since 2020 when NURTW became non-existent in his Ogun State.
ii. The Lagos Division of the Industrial Court, at the instance of the National Vice-President of the Union and in the presence of Alhaji Baruwa’s lawyer, on the 20th day of July, 2023 issued an Order for parties to maintain status quo pending hearing and determination of all pending applications including application for interlocutory injunction to restrain conduct of any election by the NURTW. The applications are still pending till today. Regrettaably, Alhaji Baruwa in a contemptuous manner and despite being aware of this Order of Injunction defied same and went ahead to conduct elections for the Union leadership without recourse to the Union’s Constitution. Copies of the Originating Summons in Suit No. NICN/LA/111/2023 and Order of Status Quo dated 20th July, 2023 are herewith attached as Annexures ‘A’ and ‘B’ respectively.
iii. Our suit pending before Court 2 at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division referred to in paragraph 2 above which was filled on 28th July, 2023 against Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa and two others as Defendants, challenges the purported Zonal Delegates Conference/Election which Baruwa conducted on the 24th of May, 2023 across the 6 zones of the Union in the country; whereas the judgment he seeks to enforce was filled by him on 28th September, 2023 challenging a Caretaker Committee that was set up in the Union, of which are not parties. Our suit was accompanied with an application for an Order of Interlocutory Injunction. Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa is aware of the pendency of all these actions against. A copy of the application filed 28th July, 2023 is attached as Annexure ‘C’. The law in Nigeria is that any person who is a party to a suit and is aware of pendency of injunction against him even if the application is yet to be moved must not do anything to undermine what the application seeks to restrain.
iv. Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa in defiance on the Order of Injunction that parties maintain status quo anta belum and the application to restrain him in both Lagos and Abuja still went ahead to declare himself President at a place in Lafia on 23rd August 2023 despite all the suits against him. As at then, he showed very clear disregard for the rule of law, Court Order and pending litigations; and now he wants to enforce court orders in his favour, forgetting that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands
v. We are constrained to bring this matter before you and to the public domain in order to clarify on some misconceptions of the public due to Alhaji Baruwa’s outcry of victimization. We know as a common order that “it is one who is cheated that cries to the court of public justice for redress” but the reverse seems to be the case were Alh. Baruwa is the one who had cheated but seems to be crying the loudest
vi. Be it noted that the two cases filed against Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa are pending before the National Industrial Court till date.
It will therefore prejudice us and the path of justice should Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa be assisted in any way to enforce any court judgement that we believe he fraudulently obtained by challenging the wrong parties on divergent issues while cases bordering on his election and constitution of the Union which were first raised and filled in court by us are still pending and yet to be determined. Moreso, it will render our cases useless and may lead to chaos, with the possibility of breakdown of law and order in the Union and society at large
By this petition and without any prejudice, we urge the Court to continue looking into this matter, and call on the trial judge handling our matter in Suit No. NICN/UY/27/2023: COMRADE UWEM JAMES &B6 ORS V. NATIONAL UNION OF ROAD TRANSPORT WORKERS, TAJUDEEN IBIKUNLE BARUWA & 2 ORS to please expedite action for a speedy trial and determination of the case which we believe, will bring final settlement on this matter.
We thank you most sincerely for your anticipated understanding.
Your faithfully,
Comrade Uwem James
National Officer, NURTW
08023507732
Uwemjames177@gmail.com
CC: The General Secretary, NURTW NHQ
