BREAKING: Court Threatens To Jail Oyo Commissioners For Disobeying Judgment Nullifying NURTW Ban

A copy of the court document obtained by SaharaReporters shows that the notice was issued at the High Court of Oyo State in the Ibadan Judicial Division in Suit No: M/246/2020, involving transport union leaders and the Oyo State Government.

Fresh legal trouble is looming for top Oyo State Government officials after a court in Ibadan issued a contempt notice warning that they risk imprisonment over alleged failure to comply with subsisting court orders linked to the long-running dispute surrounding the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

A copy of the court document obtained by SaharaReporters shows that the notice was issued at the High Court of Oyo State in the Ibadan Judicial Division in Suit No: M/246/2020, involving transport union leaders and the Oyo State Government.

The 1st to 5th applicants in the suit are Alhaji Abideen Abimbola Olajide, Alhaji Lekan Aleshinloye, Alhaji Isiaka Ajetunmobi, Alhaji Kasali Lawal, and the National Union of Road Transport Workers. The respondents are the Governor of Oyo State, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, and the Commissioner for Public Infrastructure, Works and Transportation.

The document, marked Form 48, Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Order of Court, was specifically served on the Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice as well as the Commissioner for Public Infrastructure, Works and Transportation at the Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

The court issued a stern warning to the officials, stating: “TAKE NOTICE that unless you obey the directions contained in these judgments/orders, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

The notice, dated February 11, 2026 and signed by the Registrar, is a procedural step taken when a party is accused of refusing to comply with a valid court judgment and signals the possible commencement of contempt proceedings.

The enforcement action comes years after the Oyo State Government, under Governor Seyi Makinde, suspended the activities of the NURTW across the state on May 31, 2019, citing breaches of peace and ordering a government takeover of motor parks.

The union challenged the decision at the National Industrial Court in July 2021, but the court dismissed the suit in March 2022.

Dissatisfied, the NURTW, through its counsel, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), approached the Court of Appeal, arguing that the state government lacked the legal authority to proscribe a trade union registered under the Trade Union Act.

The appellate court later overturned the suspension, declaring the action of the Oyo State Government unlawful.

In its judgment, the court held that the state failed to establish credible evidence of violence to justify the ban, noting that allegations were made “without setting forth the acts of the appellant and concrete evidence to show the acts and conduct that can be categorised as violent.”

The court further ruled that even where security concerns exist, authorities must act within the law, stating that such issues “cannot be resolved by resort to another form of illegality by the state government going outside the lawful channel to use its whims and caprices, by suspending the activities of the appellant.”