Abuja, Nigeria – In a stark courtroom revelation, Williams Akporeha, president of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, recounted a harrowing attack he suffered alongside other union members on November 1. The incident, which unfolded at the Petroleum Tanker Drivers’ office in Utako, has led to charges of attempted murder and assault against 20 former union leaders.
During his testimony as the second prosecution witness in the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, Akporeha described the violent confrontation that blocked him and the union’s Secretary-General, Wale Afolabi, from entering their office. The attackers, according to Akporeha, were armed with clubs, iron bars, and stones, and included a former National Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, Lucky Osesua.
Akporeha detailed the physical assault he endured as he attempted to address the situation. “They started shouting, accusing us of theft, and immediately escalated to physical violence,” he recounted. He further noted that the aggressors were not only threatening but appeared prepared to cause severe harm with weapons and suspected incendiary devices.
The union president explained that amidst the chaos, he was forcibly separated from Afolabi and hurried into the building by his secretary, Mary Okafor, through a lesser-known entrance, in a bid to ensure his safety. From inside, he witnessed continuing assaults against his colleagues, describing a distressing scene with blood stains and persistent threats from the assailants.
Akporeha’s testimony highlighted that the violence was not an isolated event but part of ongoing tensions within the union. This came into sharper focus when his driver later informed him that Afolabi had been left unconscious and severely injured as a result of the altercation.
Law enforcement intervened when officers from the Utako Police Station arrived at the scene, led by the Divisional Crime Officer, and managed to rescue Akporeha from further harm. The subsequent arrest of the alleged assailants, including noteworthy figures like Dayyabu Garga and Humble Obinna, led to their arraignment where they all pleaded not guilty.
The courtroom proceedings also witnessed a legal skirmish over the admissibility of a petition submitted by Akporeha in the aftermath of the attack. The Defense, led by Christopher Oshiomogie (SAN), contested the submission, arguing the petition’s photocopy status undermined its validity. This dispute necessitated an adjournment of the trial, now set to resume on November 20.
The case has underscored significant rifts within one of Nigeria’s most vital labor unions and raised concerns about the safety of union leadership amid internal conflicts. Legal and labor experts suggest that the outcome of this trial could send a strong signal about the extent to which violence is an acceptable part of union interactions and the reliability of legal protections for union leaders in Nigeria.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the Nigerian labor community watches closely, hoping for resolutions that not only address the immediate issues of justice but also lead to more robust safeguards for union activists facing internal opposition.