AUATON President Accused of Intimidation by a Rival Faction

The national president of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), Mr. Adedamola Adeniran, has been accused of intimidation by a rival faction of the union. The AUATON President was accused shortly after the factional president of the Union, David Nosa, was arrested in Abuja by the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).

AUATON President Accused, AUATON President rival faction, AUATON President controversy

AUATON President Accused Of Power Abuse

In a letter addressed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayoade Ibrahim, the factional secretary, on behalf of the AUATON faction highlighted Adeniran power abuse. 

He alleged that AUATON President, purportedly affiliated with the police institute in Abuja, has been misusing his authority to coerce and threaten factional members, despite a pending legal case.

The letter reads, “Adedamola has been leveraging his connection with the police to arrest us, even after we reported the matter to the NLC committee panel. During the mediation meeting called by the NLC, Adedamola used the police to arrest our members.”

“This blatant abuse of power continued last week when he planned our arrest. However, today Adedamola’s tactics succeeded and the police arrested David Nosa at his residence.” 

The faction further said Mr Adeniran’s actions were a clear violation of the rights of its members and an attempt to arrest them. It said Adedamola’s actions are not only unethical but also against the AUATON’s constitution and labor laws.

Also Read: AUATON Accuses PCNGI of Bypassing Them

AUATON Other Factional Leaders Accused of Attempting To Defraud Edo Govt

According to Technext, aside from AUATON President accusation, David Nosa, former national deputy president of the union, was arrested around 1 pm at his residence in Abuja, on Monday.

AUATON’s media, publicity, and technical team highlighted that Nosa was arrested for allegedly impersonating the union’s president and defrauding members of AUATON in Edo State, amongst others.

The technical team also accused the factional president of attempting to defraud the Edo State government during the state’s gubernatorial election and colluding with his secretary, Ayoade Ibrahim to mislead the public.

The team said, “David Nosa is under investigation for unethical and unauthorized use of the Union name and members in an attempt to defraud the Edo State government during the just concluded gubernatorial campaigns and elections.”

“The Nigeria Police Federal Crime Intelligence Department (FCID) is also investigating David Nosa’s alleged collaboration with Ben Ayoade, the sacked former General Secretary of the union to mislead the public about AUATON.”

However, Mr. David Nosa has been freed from police custody. The arrest was attributed to AUATON President accusation. Nosa was able to convince the police that the matter was a union affair which was already before the national industrial court.

He said, “So the police in their wisdom and commitment to the peace of the Nigerian people release me on bail and ask that both I and AUATON President accused, Adedamola Adeniran should return to the force CID tomorrow morning for settlement between the two factions.”

He finally wrote, “I write this to my esteemed members nationwide to debunk the rumors and false claims flying on all social media platforms that I was arrested and detained ‘for impersonation and conspiracy to commit fraud’ and to reassure our members that I am back home with my family safe and well.”