‘Who wants him out of circulation?’ — NLC faults police invitation of Ajaero

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has faulted the invitation of Joe Ajaero by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

In a statement, Benson Upah, media head of the NLC, said the police failed to accord the NLC president the courtesy of his official title in the invite.

On Monday, 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 is expected at the intelligence response team (IRT) complex in Abuja on Tuesday.

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

‘THE LAST HAS NOT BEEN HEARD’

Speaking on the invitation, Upah said: “A personal message sent to Comrade Joe Ajaero by SP Moshood said, ‘We were at the Labour House to submit this (letter of invitation) but the place was locked, sir’.

“We find this curious because staff were in the office beyond 6 pm. We also note that Comrade Joe Ajaero was not addressed by his official title of President of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

“Clearly, the last has not been heard about the raid on the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress.”

The statement added that labour is being victimised for the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest which ended on August 10.

“Preceding the raid, the Congress had advised the government to have a dialogue with the organisers of the (hunger) protest even as the congress had clearly stated it was not part of the protest,” Upah added.

“The congress criticised the police for the high casualty rate during the protest. The congress, in its NEC communique after the raid, expressed outrage at the behaviour of the police and demanded an apology from both the police and the government.

“At its world press conference last Thursday, the congress had raised the alarm that should anything happen to the leadership of the congress or any of its members, the police should be held accountable.

“The question on the lips of those in the know is: Who wants Joe Ajaero out of circulation?”

BACKGROUND

TheCable understands that the police summon is connected to the recent raid of the NLC secretariat in Abuja by the police.

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

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

Subsequently, Kayode Egbetokun, the 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 secretariat.