Counsel to the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mrs. Funmi Falana, has faulted the Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Abiodun Aikomo, for allegedly misrepresenting the judgment of the Court of Appeal which nullified the proscription and suspension of the union’s activities in the state.
In a letter addressed to Aikomo, Falana accused the Attorney-General of substituting his personal views for the express pronouncements of the appellate court. She warned that continued disobedience to the judgment would amount to contempt of court and could attract disciplinary action before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
The letter, copied to the Oyo State Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), reminded the state government that the Court of Appeal’s ruling in Suit No: CA/IB/263/2022 – National Union of Road Transport Workers v. Governor of Oyo State & 3 Ors. explicitly declared the proscription and suspension of NURTW operations by Governor Seyi Makinde as illegal and unconstitutional.
Falana stated, “It is unfortunate that you have substituted your views for the judgment of the Court of Appeal without any legal basis. The Court never held that NURTW remains suspended from collecting dues from motor parks and garages in the state.”
Citing Section 287(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), she stressed that the appellate court’s decisions must be enforced by all authorities and persons, including state governments.
The human rights lawyer warned that any further refusal to implement the judgment would compel her to initiate contempt proceedings against the Attorney-General and report him for professional misconduct.
The Court of Appeal had earlier ruled that the Oyo State Government lacked legal authority to suspend the activities of a registered trade union and that the state failed to justify its actions based on allegations of breach of peace.
Meanwhile, Oyo NURTW Chairman, Alhaji Abideen Olajide (popularly known as Ejiogbe), has expressed the union’s readiness to resume operations, assuring residents that the union remains law-abiding and prepared to coexist peacefully with the state’s Motor Park Managers.
Falana urged the state government to comply fully with the judgment and reinstate the NURTW’s lawful operations in all parks and garages across Oyo State.
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