The National Industrial Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the arrest and detention of the Lagos State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mustapha Adekunle, popularly known as Sego, and the union’s Secretary, Usman Teslim, for allegedly disobeying court orders.
Justice Isaac Essien made the order on Monday following the failure of the two officials to appear in court to show cause why they should not be committed to prison for contempt.
The judge condemned their failure to comply with the court's directives, describing it as a flagrant disregard for judicial authority.
During the proceedings, the court also raised concerns over an affidavit of non-service submitted by a bailiff, Ayo Moses, who alleged that the Chief Security Officer of the sixth judgment debtor prevented him from serving court processes on October 5, 2026.
Justice Essien described the alleged obstruction of the bailiff while carrying out his official duties as a serious development capable of undermining the administration of justice.
Following the development, 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 Adekunle and Teslim.
The agencies were further instructed to ensure that the two officials were handed over to the officer in charge of the correctional facility.
The matter was adjourned until November 16, 2026, when the court will consider whether the union officials have purged themselves of the contempt.
The case is linked to a dispute over the collection of levies from commercial tricycle operators in Lagos State.
The Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria had secured a December 11, 2025 judgment recognising it as an independent trade union.
However, allegations emerged that NURTW officials continued to collect daily, weekly and security tickets from tricycle operators despite the court's ruling.
The dispute has since generated tensions over the authority to collect levies and other charges from commercial tricycle operators across the state.
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