By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the re-election of Tajudeen Baruwa as the National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), rendering the recent election of Musiliu Akinsanya, widely known as MC Oluomo, invalid.

According to court documents, the appellate court affirmed the March 11, 2024, judgment of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, which recognized Baruwa’s leadership. This judgment effectively nullifies the November 9, 2024, election that saw MC Oluomo emerge as the union’s president during a conference held in Osogbo, Osun State.

The ruling was delivered by a panel of three justices—Hamma Akawu Barka, Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba, and Asmau Ojuolape Akanbi—who dismissed the appeal and imposed a cost of N100,000 on the appellants.

This Appeal is devoid of merit and the same is hereby dismissed,” the court stated in its judgment, which was read by Justice Barka.

The court further affirmed the National Industrial Court’s validation of the delegates’ conference held on May 24, 2023, across six zonal councils, where Baruwa secured a second term as president. It also upheld the August 23, 2023, National Delegates Conference in Lafia, Nasarawa State, where Baruwa and other national officers were inaugurated.

Justice O. O. Oyewumi of the National Industrial Court had earlier ruled that the October 25, 2023, national delegates’ conference, which produced Isa Ore as acting president, and the subsequent November 9, 2024, election overseen by Ore, were invalid.

The judgment declared that there was no evidence of a leadership crisis in the union to justify the invocation of a ‘doctrine of necessity,’ which led to the formation of a caretaker committee by the former president, Najeem Yasin.

Oyewumi also restrained Yasin, the union’s former president and chairman of its Board of Trustees, from interfering in the day-to-day operations of the union, limiting his role to board matters.

“This National Delegates Conference held on October 25, 2023, cannot stand and is hereby declared null and void,” the judge ruled.

The Appeal Court’s decision has now cemented Baruwa’s position as the legitimate leader of the NURTW, invalidating all actions taken by the Isa Ore-led caretaker committee and the election that brought MC Oluomo to power

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Four persons have been reported dead following a fresh conflict that erupted between herders and farmers in
Karim-Lamido LGA of Taraba State.

The violence which occurred in Bambur community of the council, was reported to have started on Thursday after a heated argument over farmland escalated, resulting in fatalities and injuries of varying degrees.

Confirming the incident, the council chairman, Bitrus Danjos, stated that measures have been implemented to prevent further loss of lives and property.

He disclosed that security personnel have been deployed to the affected areas to restore peace.

“When the issue arose, the council acted swiftly by collaborating with security agencies to bring the situation under control,” Danjos said.

Though he could not give the exact figure of those who sustained injuries, he confirmed that those injured are currently receiving medical attention at Bambur General Hospital and Zailani Dispensary.

Calling for calm, he urged the warring parties to embrace peace, assuring the community that efforts are ongoing to resolve the matter amicably through dialogue and other measures.

“The council is committed to ensuring a peaceful resolution and has taken various steps to engage stakeholders in meaningful discussions,” Danjos emphasized.

Also confirming the report, the Taraba State Police Command, through its spokesperson, Usman Abubakar, said heavily armed anti riot policemen have been drafted to the area, and that normalcy had been restored.

While residents of the community claimed that four deaths were recorded, Police sources told our reporter that only one person was killed, and two others injured.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Argentinian police on Thursday arrested a Brazilian, Joelton Gusmao de Oliveira who was declared wanted over attempted coup last year in support of former far-right leader, Jair Bolsonaro.

The police statement also said Brazil had previously issued a warrant for his “arrest and detention” for extradition.

Forty-seven-year-old Oliveira was arrested in Argentina’s La Plata, 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Buenos Aires, according to a police statement

A Brazilian court had in February handed Oliveira a 17-year prison sentence in absentia for the attempted coup and armed criminal association.

Thousands of pro-Bolsonaro activists invaded the presidential palace, Congress and the Supreme Court on January 8, 2023, demanding the intervention of the armed forces to depose the newly elected left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Brazilian news site UOL said Oliveira was a refugee arrested while trying to renew his papers.

In October, the Argentine government amended the law preventing foreigners charged or convicted over “serious crimes” from being granted refugee status.