Ajaero’s arrest by DSS not connected to police invitation, says Falana

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, says the arrest of his client, Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), is unconnected with the earlier invitation by the Nigeria police force.

Personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Ajaero on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja as he was about to board a flight to the UK.

On August 29, the NLC president honoured the invitation of the police over “a case of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime”.

Addressing the recent arrest of his client, Falana said the secret police had failed to provide a reason for Ajaero’s arrest.

 “The invitation to Comrade Joe Ajaero by the police was rescheduled last week. I have contacted the police authorities. The arrest is not related to the police invitation,” he said.

“Comrade Ajaero was on his way to London to attend the ongoing TUC conference when he was arrested at the airport this morning by the SSS. No reason has been provided for the arrest by the SSS.”

BACKGROUND

On August 19, the police invited Ajaero for questioning over “a case of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime”.

The letter signed by Adamu Mu’azu, assistant commissioner of police, indicated that Ajaero was expected at the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) complex on August 20.

Mu’azu said an arrest warrant would be issued on Ajaero if he did not honour the invitation.

Ajaero declined the invitation, demanding details of the allegations levelled against him.

On August 7, police had raided the NLC building in the Central Business District of Abuja.

The NLC said operatives who raided the building “claimed that they were looking for seditious materials used for the #EndBadGovernance protests” which took place from August 1-10.

Subsequently, Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), said one of the masterminds of the Sudan conflict was traced to the NLC headquarters.

The IGP added that police detectives traced the foreigner to a shop within the Labour House, and that operatives did not raid the entire secretariat.

On August 29, some members of affiliate unions and labour leaders across states, converged on the Labour House ahead of Ajaero’s visit to the IRT.

Afterwards, Ajaero and Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, alongside other activists, left the building for the police headquarters and returned few hours later.

On August 30, the police issued another invitation to Ajaero and Emma Ugboaja, general secretary of the NLC, to appear on September 5.

An invitation letter signed by Ibitoye Alajide, commissioner of police in charge of operations, said Ajaero and Ugboaja are to answer questions over “alleged criminal intimidation, conducts likely to cause a breach of public peace, and malicious damage to property”.