NLC president, Joe Ajaero arrested

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, has been arrested by the men of Department of the State Services.

He was arrested at the International Airport in Abuja on his way to attend the Trade Union Congress conference in London, which begins today.

Ajaero’s arrest, THE PLAINTRUTH gathered was based on the allegations of terrorism financing, treasonable felony, cybercrime and other related offences.

THE PLAINTRUTH had, last week reported that the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Abuja invited Ajaero over allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony.

Ajaero was accompanied by the human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), and others.

Falana, who addressed journalists shortly after Ajaero was released, said the invitation was due to a petition by a private company and not based on allegations of terrorism financing.

He said, A few months ago, a private company lodged a complaint against the leadership of the NLC in respect of the picketing of its premises by workers.

“The complaints against Comrade Joe Ajaero are limited to criminal intimidation, conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace and malicious damage to properties.”

Meanwhile, the NLC, has issued a Monday midnight to the Federal Government to unconditionally release its President, Joe Ajaero, or face dire consequences.

In a communiqué at the end of its National Administrative Council, NAC, meeting signed NLC Deputy President, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, the NLC said “The National Administrative Council (NAC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) convened an emergency meeting today to address the alarming and unlawful arrest and detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, by agents of the Nigerian Government.

“Comrade Ajaero was arrested and detained at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while en-route to the United Kingdom, where he was scheduled to attend and address the Congress of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain, representing Nigerian workers in critical discussions on workers’ rights and social justice.

“After extensive deliberation, the NAC resolved as follows: The Council unequivocally condemns the brazen and illegal detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero by the Nigerian State without any legal warrant or justification.

“The NLC notes with grave concern that Comrade Ajaero was lawfully discharging his duties to represent Nigerian workers and had not committed any offense warranting such action. His detention is an affront to the rights of workers and the democratic principles of freedom of movement and expression.

“The NLC demands the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero before 12 midnight today. The Council reiterates that Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive or a criminal, and his detention is an act of intimidation aimed at silencing dissent and stifling the labor movement’s voice in Nigeria. NAC also demands the immediate reversal of the current hike in the price of petrol to N617/Litre.

“State of Alert: The Congress places all its affiliates, State Councils, Civil society allies, and the Nigerian populace on red alert. The detention of Comrade Ajaero is an attack not just on the NLC leadership but on the rights of all workers and citizens to organize, protest, and express themselves freely.

“The NLC will not stand by while these rights are trampled upon. This provocation is another attempt by the State to scuttle the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage.”