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The Court of Appeal in Ibadan has issued a formal notice warning top officials of the Oyo State Government of possible imprisonment for contempt of court if they fail to comply with its judgment reinstating the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state.
The notice, contained in Form 48, Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Order of Court, was issued in Appeal No. CA/IB/263/2022, arising from Suit No. NICN/IB/41/2021 between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) as appellant and the Governor of Oyo State alongside other government officials as respondents.
Those served with the notice include the Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice as well as the Commissioner for Public Infrastructure, Works and Transportation.
The court warned that failure to obey the court’s directives may amount to contempt, punishable by committal to prison.
The appellate court’s decision followed an appeal against the judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Ibadan Judicial Division, delivered on March 23, 2022, by Justice Opeloye A. Ogunbowale.
In its ruling delivered on September 26, 2025, the Court of Appeal panel held that the Oyo State Government failed to justify its suspension of the NURTW’s operations on grounds of alleged breaches of peace, law, and order.
The three-member panel, comprising Justices K. I. Amadi, F. Umaru, and Biobele Abraham Georgewill, ruled in favour of the union after hearing arguments from counsel representing all parties.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, alongside Femi Adeyemo, appeared for the appellant, while the Oyo State Attorney-General, Abiodun Aikomo, led legal representatives for the first to third respondents.
M. A. Ojeah represented the Commissioner of Police, the fourth respondent.
The appellate court allowed the appeal, set aside the suspension of the NURTW’s activities in Oyo State, and nullified the earlier judgment of the lower court.
The court further entered judgment accordingly in favour of the union.
Following the ruling, the Court of Appeal registrar issued the Form 48 notice dated February 10, 2026, formally notifying the affected state officials of the legal consequences of any disobedience to the court order.
“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 court stated in the notice of consequences of disobedience to order of court, dated February 10, 2026, and signed by the Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Omikunle Atinuke Esq.
The development marks a significant escalation in the long-running dispute between the Oyo State Government and the transport union, as enforcement proceedings now place government officials at risk of contempt sanctions if compliance is not achieved.
In its September 2025 ruling, the court held: ”That I therefore hold that the Respondents failed to justify the suspension of the activities of the Appellant based on the ground of breach of the Peace, Law and Order in Oyo State caused by the Appellant.
“That I allow this Appeal, set aside the suspension on the operations of the Appellant in Oyo State. That I also set aside the Judgment of the Lower Court. That Judgment is entered accordingly.”
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