DSS arrests NLC President, Joe Ajaero, at Abuja airport

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has been arrested.

Ajaero was arrested by the operatives of the Department of the State Services (DSS).

The NLC President was picked up in the early hours of Monday, September 9, 2024 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his way to the United Kingdom for an official assignment.

Ajaero was scheduled to attend the Trade Union Congress conference in London today.

The Police had invited Ajaero for interrogation on charges related to alleged “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cyber crime”

Ajaero was summoned via a letter dated August 19 and signed by ACP Adamu Mu’azu on behalf of Commissioner of Police, Intelligence.

Ajaero to police: NLC can’t be intimidated, we’ve nothing to hide

The letter stated that Ajaero’s name was mentioned in an on-going investigations connected to the alleged criminal offences.

The NLC President had honoured the invitation. He had been re-invited for further investigation.

The arrest is in connection with the ongoing investigation of terrorism charges and attempt to overthrow the government of Bola Tinubu.

The organised labour has confirmed Ajaero’s arrest.

The Congress in a statement signed by its Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, on Monday in Abuja, stated that Nigeria was far descending into an authoritarian government.

The statement reads: “This morning, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, was seized and whisked away by agents of the Nigerian State while on his way to the United Kingdom on the invitation of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain.

“Comrade Ajaero was set to attend and address the global gathering of workers on behalf of Nigerian workers at the Congress of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the UK, a platform where critical discussions on workers’ rights, social justice, and economic fairness are discussed.

“We are yet to ascertain his whereabouts or his state of health as all efforts we have made to get in touch with him have proved abortive.

“We wish to categorically state that Comrade “Ajaero has been detained without any legal warrant or formal instrument. Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive.

The Star