FCT Police Detain Baruwa During Attempt to Enforce Court Order at NURTW Headquarters

Tension escalated on Monday at the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) national secretariat in Abuja as operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command arrested the court-recognised president, Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, alongside several of his supporters during a confrontation linked to a leadership dispute within the union.

The incident occurred when Baruwa and his team arrived at the Abuja headquarters to enforce a ruling that affirmed his leadership. The attempt was met with resistance from security operatives stationed at the premises, leading to a breakdown of order.

Eyewitness accounts indicate that the situation turned violent, with police dispersing the crowd using teargas. During the chaos, one supporter of Baruwa was reportedly shot, while others sustained injuries after being allegedly assaulted by officers deployed to the scene. The condition of the injured individual has not been confirmed.

Baruwa was subsequently taken into custody by police, though authorities have not publicly disclosed his location or the charges, if any, against him at the time of filing this report.

The development follows a judgment delivered by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja on March 6, 2026, which ordered members of a rival faction led by Musiliu Akinsanya to vacate the union’s national secretariat and hand over control to Baruwa’s leadership.

In the ruling, the court directed that Baruwa and other listed claimants assume immediate control of the union’s affairs, while restraining the defendants and their representatives from occupying the premises or performing union leadership functions, including collecting levies or issuing tickets.

The claimants in the suit include Baruwa and several other union officials, while the defendants include Najeem Usman Yasin, Tajudeen Badru Agbede, Kayode Agbeyangi, Alhassan Haruna, Aliyu Tanimu, and Hakeem Adeosun.

Despite the court’s directive, Baruwa’s attempt to physically assume control of the secretariat was blocked by personnel of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, raising questions about enforcement of the judgment.

Before his arrest, Baruwa addressed journalists at the secretariat, insisting that his action was in compliance with multiple court rulings in his favour. He stated that the union had formally notified relevant authorities and attached copies of the judgments to support its planned takeover.

He also maintained that the union sought a peaceful transition, adding that the delay in compliance by the opposing faction had compelled his team to return to the office after an extended legal process.