The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Lagos Division, has ordered the arrest and committal to prison 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 show cause why they should not be committed to prison for allegedly disobeying its directives.
The proceedings arose from allegations that NURTW officials continued collecting daily, weekly and security tickets from commercial tricycle operators in Lagos despite an earlier court judgment recognising the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) as an independent trade union.
The court had, on December 11, 2025, delivered the judgment at the centre of the dispute. The latest proceedings concern allegations that the union leadership failed to comply with the court’s decision.
Justice Essien also expressed concern over an affidavit of non-service filed by a court bailiff, Ayo Moses. The bailiff alleged that the Chief Security Officer of the sixth judgment debtor prevented him from serving court processes on October 5, 2026.
The judge reportedly described the alleged obstruction of the bailiff in the performance of his official duties as a serious matter with potentially grave consequences for the administration of justice.
Consequently, the court directed the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other relevant law enforcement agencies to arrest the two NURTW officials and convey them to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
The matter was adjourned until November 16, 2026, when the court is expected to consider whether the officials have purged themselves of the alleged contempt.
The development places renewed attention on the authority of the National Industrial Court and the obligation of parties to comply with subsisting judicial orders. Court orders remain binding unless set aside or varied through due legal process.
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