The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan has warned top officials of the Oyo State Government to comply immediately with its judgment reinstating the National Union of Road Transport Workers in the state or risk being committed to prison for contempt.
The warning was contained in a Form 48 – Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Order of Court issued in Appeal No. CA/IB/263/2022, arising from Suit No. NICN/IB/41/2021 between the NURTW and the Oyo State Governor alongside other government officials.
Those served with the notice include the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, as well as the Commissioner for Public Infrastructure, Works and Transportation.
The appellate court stated that failure to obey its directives would amount to contempt of court, punishable by imprisonment.
The dispute stemmed from the suspension of the union’s activities by the state government over alleged breaches of peace and public order.
However, in its judgment delivered on September 26, 2025, the three-member panel of Justices K. I. Amadi, F. Umaru and Biobele Abraham Georgewill held that the government failed to justify the action.
The court allowed the appeal filed by the union, set aside the suspension of its operations in Oyo State, and nullified the earlier judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Ibadan Division, delivered on March 23, 2022, by Justice Opeloye A. Ogunbowale.
It subsequently entered judgment in favour of the union.
Following the ruling, the registrar of the Court of Appeal, Omikunle Atinuke, issued the Form 48 notice dated February 10, 2026, formally notifying the affected officials of the legal consequences of disobedience.
“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 read.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, and Femi Adeyemo represented the union, while the Oyo State Attorney-General, Abiodun Aikomo, led the legal team for the first to third respondents. M.A. Ojeah appeared for the Commissioner of Police.
The development marks a fresh twist in the protracted face-off between the state government and the transport union, as enforcement proceedings now heighten the risk of sanctions against public officials should compliance with the appellate court’s judgment fail.
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