The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has convened a closed-door meeting following the arrest and detention of its President, Joe Ajaero by security agents.
NLC’s Head of Public Relations, Benson Upah, who indicated that the meeting’s outcome will be communicated to the public soon, disclosed that Ajaero was apprehended without a legal warrant, leaving his whereabouts and health status unknown. He was en route to represent Nigerian workers at the Congress of the Trade Union Congress in the UK when he was seized by state agents.
Upah denounced the arrest as a “brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation,” stating that Ajaero had not been declared wanted by any law enforcement authority. He accused the government of trying to silence dissent amid growing public discontent over its economic policies.
“This unjust arrest reflects the government’s increasing disregard for the rights of citizens and its attempts to suppress opposition, even as Nigerians continue to suffer from crippling economic hardship,” Upah said.
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The NLC has called for Ajaero’s immediate and unconditional release, labeling the detention as both undemocratic and immoral.
This arrest comes after Ajaero has been under heightened scrutiny by security agencies in recent weeks. On August 20, he responded to a summon from the Intelligence Response Team, IRT,of the Nigerian Police Force, following allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.
Though initially unable to attend a police summon on August 19, Ajaero, through his legal counsel, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, explained the delay and promised to appear on August 29.
He kept this commitment, arriving at the Force Headquarters alongside Falana, Maxwell Opara, Deji Adeyanju, and other lawyers and labour leaders to address the charges. Joe Ajaero resumed his duties at the Labour House after his visit to the police.
Credible News.ng
