Fresh details have emerged on why the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Lagos Division, ordered the immediate arrest and remand of the Lagos State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle, popularly known as Sego, at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
Justice Isaac Essien issued the committal order on Monday, November 2, 2026, after Sego and the union’s Secretary, Usman Teslim, failed to appear before the court to show cause why they should not be committed to prison for contempt.
PMEXPRESS gathered that the contempt proceedings arose from allegations that officials of the NURTW in Lagos State continued to collect daily, weekly and security tickets from commercial tricycle operators across the state despite a valid court judgment.
The court had on December 11, 2025, delivered judgment recognizing the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) as an independent trade union with rights to operate without interference from NURTW.
The judgment, which affirmed TOAN’s independent status, restrained NURTW officials from imposing or collecting levies from tricycle operators under the association.
Despite the judgment, TOAN alleged that NURTW officials led by Sego continued to collect tickets and harass its members across parks in Oshodi, Mile 2, Iyana Ipaja, and Berger.
The association subsequently filed contempt proceedings against the NURTW chairman and secretary.
Justice Essien had ordered the two officials to appear before the court to show cause why they should not be committed to prison for contempt.
The court noted that despite being served with the contempt proceedings, the two officials failed to appear on Monday to defend themselves.
The judge held that their failure to appear amounted to further disregard for the court and constituted contempt.
“The alleged conduct of the union boss and official is brazen disobedience to court orders. The authority of the judiciary must not be undermined,” Justice Essien said.
The court also expressed serious concern over an affidavit filed by its bailiff, Ayo Moses, who alleged that he was prevented from serving court processes on October 5, 2026, by the Chief Security Officer of one of the judgment debtors.
Justice Essien described the alleged obstruction of the bailiff in the performance of his official duties as a dangerous development with serious implications for the administration of justice.
Consequently, Justice Essien ordered the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, the Lagos State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other relevant law enforcement agencies to effect the immediate arrest of the two NURTW officials.
The court directed that once arrested, they should be handed over to the officer in charge of Kirikiri Correctional Centre, Lagos, for detention pending when they purge themselves of the contempt.
The matter was adjourned to November 16, 2026, for further hearing.
As at Tuesday morning, P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Sego is yet to report to Kirikiri as police sources said they are awaiting the certified true copy of the remand order. Efforts to get the reaction of the NURTW chairman proved abortive as his phone was switched off as of press time.
The dispute between NURTW and TOAN over collection of tickets from tricycle operators has lingered for several years in Lagos State.
The latest order marks a major development in the enforcement of trade union rights and court judgments in the transport sector in Lagos.
Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle is the Lagos State Chairman of NURTW, popularly known as Sego.
TOAN is Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria, recognized by court in December 2025 as independent union.
November 16, 2026, has been fixed for determination of whether Sego has purged himself of contempt.