Joe Ajaero and NLC members at the Labour House in Abuja
BY Ayodele Oluwafemi
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), was invited for questioning over alleged ties with Andrew Wynne, a Briton.
Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, told journalists on Monday that the police have declared Wynne wanted for allegedly plotting to topple President Bola Tinubu’s government.
The Briton was declared wanted alongside Ehis Obinyan, a Nigerian.
Adejobi said Wynne rented a space at the NLC headquarters in Abuja for Iva Valley Bookshop and established Stars of Nations Schools as a “cover for his subversive activities”.
The force spokesperson said the invitation extended to NLC leaders had nothing to do with activities of the union’s leadership.
“Contrary to disinformation, the invitation extended to certain individuals within the NLC leadership has nothing to do with rights advocacy and activities of the union’s leadership,” Adejobi said.
“But aimed at clearing the relationship of the individuals and Andrew Wynne who in addition to plotting unconstitutional regime change is also financing terrorism in Nigeria.
“Following the interaction between the police investigation team and the NLC president, there is now a clearer understanding of the focus of the ongoing police investigation and the depth of Andrew Wynne’s subversive network and activities.
“No nation will tolerate attempts by foreign elements to interfere in its internal affairs, threaten national security and organise and fund local elements to instigate uprisings aimed at destabilising the country and engendering violent and unconstitutional regime change.”
On August 7, police officers raided the Labour House in the Central Business District of Abuja.
The NLC had said the operatives who invaded the building “claimed that they were looking for seditious materials used for the #EndBadGovernance protests.
The raid took place amid the nationwide protest against the pervasive economic hardship in the country from August 1-10.
Days later, Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police, said the mastermind of the Sudan conflict was traced to NLC headquarters in Abuja.
Egbetokun said some individuals allegedly wanted to use the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest to destabilise the country.
Subsequently, the police invited Joe Ajaero for questioning on August 20, 2024.
Ajaero declined the invitation for August 20 and asked the police to rescheduled the questioning for August 29.
On August 29, Ajaero — accompanied by Femi Falana, the human rights lawyer — visited the force headquarters to honour the call.
In another letter, the police asked Ajaero to appear for questioning alongside Emmanuel Ugboaja, general secretary of the union, on Thursday, September 5, 2024.
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