The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Lagos Division, ordered the arrest and detention of Lagos State NURTW chairman Mustapha Adekunle, popularly known as Sego, and the union’s secretary, Usman Teslim, on November 2, 2026, according to published court reports.
The Guardian reported that Justice Isaac Essien issued the directive over alleged disobedience of court orders after the two National Union of Road Transport Workers officials failed to appear to explain why they should not be committed to prison for contempt.
Agencies directed to execute order
According to The Guardian and Daily Post, the court directed the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the state commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other law-enforcement agencies to arrest the officials and hand them over to the officer in charge of Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
The reports describe a court directive, rather than confirmation that the officials have been taken into custody. IDNN has not independently verified its execution.
Bailiff alleges obstruction of service
The Guardian also reported that the judge considered an affidavit of non-service filed by court bailiff Ayo Moses.
According to the newspaper, Moses alleged that a chief security officer attached to one of the judgment debtors prevented him from serving court processes on October 5. The reported allegation did not identify either Adekunle or Teslim as the person who physically obstructed the bailiff.
IDNN has not inspected the affidavit or the wider service record.
The matter was reportedly adjourned until November 16 for the court to consider whether the officials had purged themselves of contempt.
IDNN has not directly contacted the officials or their lawyers, obtained the enrolled order, or verified any subsequent court order affecting the reported directive.
