AJAERO NOT QUERIED ON TERRORISM

The National Labour Congress, NLC, has said that the inclusion of terrorism financing and treason allegations in the summon letter to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, by the Nigeria Police appears to have been a mistake or error.

Maxwell Opara, a representative of NLC lead counsel by Femi Falana SAN, said these allegations were not part of the questioning during Ajaero’s interview with the police at the Inspector General’s Intelligence Response Team office in Abuja.

Opara told journalists at the Labour House after the interview that the police only inquired about a tenant in the Paschal Bafyau Labour House, the NLC Headquarters.

“We were surprised because the allegations listed in the invitation letter were not addressed during the questioning. They were not even mentioned,” Opara said.

The police letter, signed by ACP Adamu Mu’azu, and dated August 19, stated: “This office is investigating a case of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime in which you were mentioned.”

In response to the situation, NLC President Ajaero expressed that he had nothing to hide and thus honored the police invitation.

He thanked supporters and affiliate unions for their solidarity and emphasised that the invitation would not deter the NLC from its mission to improve conditions for workers and Nigerians.

He also recalled previous arrests of labour leaders under the late Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime.

Ajaero went on to say now that Police invitation saga is over, the congress will focus on the struggle for the implementation of new minimum wage.

He added that his leadership of NLC is committed to workers’ welfare and interest of Nigerians.

NLC General Secretary Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja added that Ajaero, who is currently a student at a local university and was occupied with exams, had requested a postponement of the police interview due to the short notice of the invitation.