About 24 hours after takeover of the national secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), faction loyal to the embattled president, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya aka (Oluomo) Tuesday condemned the alleged invasion of its national secretariat in Abuja by people he described as suspected hoodlums, describing the incident as a breach of due process and a threat to industrial harmony.
Addresing newsmen on the development in Abuja, the General Secretary of the union, Kayode Agbeyangi, alleged that a former president of the union stormed the secretariat in the early hours of the day, purportedly acting on a court judgment without prior notice.
He said the incident, which occurred around 7:00 a.m., disrupted normal activities, preventing staff and officials from resuming work.
Agbeyangi, in his remarks, maintained that the action was unlawful, stressing that the former president should have followed established legal procedures rather than resorting to force.
He disclosed that the union had instructed its legal team to challenge the judgment, noting that an appeal and a stay of execution had already been filed.
He further alleged that properties within the secretariat, including items belonging to a training centre located in the complex, were vandalised and carted away during the invasion.
According to him, several cases involving the union are still pending before the National Industrial Court, some of which predate the judgment being enforced.
Describing the extent of the damage, the NURTW scribe said furniture and other valuables were destroyed, despite efforts made since 2023 to maintain peace within the union through reconciliation among stakeholders and former leaders.
Agbeyangi called on security agencies, the media, and members of the public to take note of the situation and witness the level of destruction at the secretariat.
He reaffirmed the union’s commitment to peaceful resolution of disputes, urging all parties to allow the rule of law to prevail.
Also speaking, the National President of NURTW, Musiliu Akinsanya, described the incident as a “forceful takeover,” insisting that due legal processes were still ongoing.
Akinsanya stated that he was not a party to the judgment being relied upon, adding that the ruling had been appealed and a stay of execution obtained.
He said he had not engaged with any of the parties involved, noting that several cases concerning the matter remain before the courts.
“The National President wishes to inform members of the union and the general public that he was not a defendant in the purported judgment. The judgment has been appealed, and a stay of execution has been duly entered,” he said
He urged members of the union to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding, assuring that the situation is under control of security agencies as the dispute continues to unfold.