Police again invite Ajaero for questioning, ask him to bring along NLC secretary

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has invited Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), over a case of “criminal intimidation”.

In a letter dated August 28, the police asked Ajaero to appear for questioning alongside Emmanuel Ugboaja, general secretary of the union, on Thursday, September 5, 2024.

Benson Upah, media head of the NLC, told TheCable that the letter was received on Friday.

The letter was signed by Ibitoye Rufus Alajide, a deputy commissioner of police.

“In furtherance of investigations into the alleged case of criminal intimidation, conducts likely to cause breach of public peace and malicious damage to properties in which your name featured,” the letter reads.

“You are requested to come along with comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja for an interview with the deputy inspector general of police, force intelligence department (FID) through the undersigned, at SPO’s room 12, 2nd floor, force intelligence department (FID) complex, Shehu Shagari way, opposite force headquarters area 11, Garki, Abuja on Thursday, 5th September, 2024 at 11am.”

On Thursday, Ajaero — accompanied by Femi Falana, the human rights lawyer — visited the force headquarters to honour an initial invitation.

The police had invited Ajaero over a case of alleged criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.

The NLC president was asked to appear before the force intelligence response team (IRT) on August 20.

But Ajaero declined the invitation, demanding details of the allegations against him. The interview was subsequently rescheduled for Thursday.

The police had said the invitation was connected to the recent raid of the NLC secretariat in Abuja.

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

The NLC said the operatives “claimed that they were looking for seditious materials used for the #EndBadGovernance protests”.

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