The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi and Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to remove Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, from his self-declared role as president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW.

The group accuses Akinsanya of defying multiple court rulings affirming Tajudeen Baruwa’s leadership and warns that continued inaction threatens the rule of law.

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, condemned Akinsanya’s refusal to vacate the position despite a November 2024 Court of Appeal judgment upholding Baruwa’s re-election in August 2023. He described the situation as a “grave affront to the rule of law,” likening it to the political breakdown that preceded the collapse of Nigeria’s First Republic. Onwubiko criticized what he called selective enforcement of judicial decisions, alleging that the government acts against opponents while shielding allies, citing the example of APC-controlled local councils in Osun State operating under armed police protection despite court orders.

The leadership crisis began when NURTW Board Chairman Najeem Yasin dissolved Baruwa’s executive and installed a caretaker committee, prompting Baruwa to challenge the move in court. His subsequent arrest by police intensified the factional dispute, with HURIWA alleging that Akinsanya has relied on security backing to assert control over the union.

The NURTW, which represents millions of transport workers across Nigeria, has been plagued by violence, including clashes in Lagos in 2023. While Akinsanya and the union have yet to respond publicly, Baruwa’s camp welcomed HURIWA’s intervention and pledged to pursue further legal action.

The dispute highlights persistent tensions in the labor sector under Tinubu’s administration and has prompted calls for the National Judicial Council to intervene and uphold judicial integrity.