The counsel to Ibikunle Tajudeen Baruwa, Barrister Tolu Babaleye, has accused Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, of flouting court judgments.
He claimed that MC Oluomo was openly acting with impunity because he had the backing of President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking during a press conference in Lagos, the lawyer accused Tinubu of supporting MC Oluomo in the “illegal occupation” of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) presidency, despite a subsisting court ruling that removed him from office.
The lawyer expressed frustration over the persistent disregard for judicial authority despite a clear ruling recognising Baruwa as the legitimate NURTW President.
Babaleye said, “In my experience as a lawyer, as soon as we get a judgment, we would congratulate the person who wins, especially if it is the judgment of the last court, because we can be sure it will be obeyed.
“But in this one, it has been very difficult. In fact, we have written to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) about this. We have written to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) about this. We have written to so many people on this matter. We even wrote to the National Security Adviser (NSA).”
He further disclosed that efforts to involve security authorities had yielded no concrete outcome, alleging that MC Oluomo had ignored an official invitation.
“They (NSA) attended to our letter and invited MC Oluomo to Lagos, he didn’t come, his lawyer came. A date was given for him to return, but when I spoke with the people, they said he said they should not worry, that he would not return, and till today, we didn’t hear anything about that letter again.
“It is as if he is above the law. And the issue is that he has a father in Israel, because he has been dropping names with the Presidency,” he said.
The lawyer also said that during a meeting with the Minister of Labour, MC Oluomo openly declared that his position in the union could only be altered by the President.
“When they met with the Minister of Labour, he said there openly that it is only the President of Nigeria that can tell him to vacate the office.
“That if he (President) tells him to vacate the office today, he will vacate today. What kind of impunity is that?” he added.
According to him, Baruwa’s camp has made several attempts over the past year to draw the President’s attention to the matter through petitions and media publications, but received no response.
The lawyer said, “Close to a year ago, we called on the President. We have made a lot of newspaper publications, including The Nation newspaper where they told us that if it is published in The Nation newspaper, the President will read it. We published it there, yet, we did not see any result.
“We do not want to believe that the President is not aware of this. Because all those who are connected with this are mentioning the name of the President, that he is their father in Israel, and he is the one who is enabling this illegality. I choose not to believe.
“But the President will have to prove to us whether they are right or we are right. He should choose who is right among us.”