Tuesday, November 3, 2026 - The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Lagos Division, has ordered the arrest and detention of the Lagos State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle, popularly known as Sego, and the union’s Secretary, Usman Teslim, over alleged contempt of court.
Justice Isaac Essien made the order after the two officials
failed to appear before the court to explain why they should not be imprisoned
for allegedly disobeying its directives.
The judge described their failure to comply with the court
orders as a flagrant disregard for judicial authority, warning that the court
would not tolerate any attempt to undermine its authority.
Justice Essien also raised concerns over an affidavit of
non-service submitted by a court bailiff, Ayo Moses, who alleged that the Chief
Security Officer of the sixth judgment debtor stopped him from delivering court
processes on October 5, 2026.
The judge described the alleged interference with the
bailiff’s official duties as a serious and dangerous development with
potentially grave consequences.
The court directed that the two NURTW officials be arrested
and remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for failing to obey its lawful
orders.
It further instructed the Lagos State Commissioner of
Police, the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,
NSCDC, and other law enforcement agencies to carry out the arrest and hand over
the officials to the officer in charge of the correctional facility.
The case was adjourned until November 16, 2026, when the
court will consider whether the officials have purged themselves of the alleged
contempt.
The dispute arose from allegations that NURTW officials
continued to collect daily, weekly, and security tickets from commercial
tricycle operators in Lagos despite a December 11, 2025 judgment recognising
the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria, TOAN, as an independent trade
union.
0 Comments