N7.4b Probe: NURTW Crisis Deepens, Olohunwa Seeks Tinubu’s Assistance

Olohunwa (l) Oluomo (r).

Olohunwa (l) Oluomo (r).

The crisis in the Lagos state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has worsened within the past weeks with its Chairman, Rafiu Olohunwa, now torn between resigning and resolving amicably the problems that have engulfed the union.

Rafiu Olohunwa (l) Oluomo (r).

While the union has been polarised with the factions battling for supremacy, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is now probing the leadership over allegation of misappropriation of NURTW funds running into billions of millions of naira. Sources said the amount is up to N7.4 billion.

The embattled chairman, PMNEWS learnt, has met several leaders in the state including the Commissioner for the Environment, Muiz Banire, and monarchs such as Oba Akiolu, Elegushi and Oniru, to help him plead with the former governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to help him save his job.

But the former governor has said he is not going back on his instruction that Olohunwa should resign as the state chairman of the union in the wake of the violent clashes between members of the union in the state.

A meeting summoned between Olohunwa and the Treasurer of the Union, Musiliu Akinsanya, alias MC Oluomo by Banire yesterday to seek amicable resolution to the crisis ended in stalemate as members of the executive council maintained they wanted Olohunwa removed from office.

They were said to have accused Olohunwa of several allegations including that he was not an original member of the union, making it impossible for the meeting at Isaac John to hold.

Though no official of the union has been arrested over the corruption allegation, it was learnt that last week, that Olohunwa was invited by the ICPC to answer questions relating to the allegations.

Olohunwa, who was said to have returned from the ICPC office on Friday, quickly invited officials of the union in the state to an emergency meeting. However, the meeting was disrupted mid-way by another faction of the union, which Olohunwa alleged was loyal to Oluomo who is also the head of the union in Oshodi area of the state.

This resulted in a fracas between the two factions with the group loyal to the chairman allegedly threatening to attack MC Oluomo who had to call on former governor Tinubu to mediate in the crisis.

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P.M.NEWS learnt that while Oluomo was with the former governor, who wanted to mediate in the crisis at the weekend, Olohunwa allegedly came to Tinubu’s Bourdillon, Ikoyi residence with his faction and attacked Oluomo.

Though no one died in the attack, several victims sustained injuries.

The incident infuriated Tinubu, who had to break a meeting he was holding with the state legislators and asked Olohunwa to resign since his actions had shown that he has not been able to manage the union effectively.

Efforts by P.M.NEWS to speak with Olohunwa and Musiliu on the issue proved abortive as both of them refused to pick our calls.

A text message sent to Musiliu to clarify issues was also rebuffed.

Though a team of the national executives arrived this morning from Abuja to probe the allegations levelled against the leadership of the union, they could not sit for fear of being attacked by a faction loyal to one of the officials.

As at the time of filing this report, there was tension at the Ojo-Oba, Abule-Egba secretariat of the union where the national executive was scheduled to meet.

—Eromosele Ebhomele & Dedeigbo Ayodeji

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