By Adesina Soyooye
Comrade Joe Ajaero, the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, has given reasons why he failed to appear before the Police for interrogation by 10.00am on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.
The Police had, on Monday, August 19, in a move which shocked not a few Nigerians from all walks of life, invited Ajaero for interrogation over alleged involvement in terrorism, its financing, treasonable felony, subversion, cyber crime, criminal conspiracy, among others.
Ajaero was asked to appear by 10.00am Tuesday, failing which the Police threatened a warrant of arrest against him.
The invitation and allegations against him have sparked reactions like claps of thunder, with his main constituency, the Nigeria Labour, threatening fire and brimstone.
Stating the stand of the NLC, after an emergency meeting Tuesday morning, its National Deputy President, Comrade Ado Kabiru Sani, asked Workers nationwide to be on standby. He said that should the Police act contrary to expectations and arrest and/or detain Ajaero, all Workers would, immediately, embark on strike.
His words: “As a committed Labour Centre, we will honor the invitation of the Police because we are not a faceless organisation, but we are working with our Lawyer for an extension of time.
“In the event that the President is arrested, all Workers will down tools immediately. We should wait for further directives from our Leadership.”
In turning down the invitation of the Police to appear on Tuesday, Ajaero said it was very sudden as he received it Monday and already had scheduled engagements before the invitation. He, therefore, said he would appear on August 29.
In a letter to the Inspector General of Police, on behalf of Ajaero, his Lawyers, Falana & Falana said: “We are solicitors to the Nigeria Labour Cogress and its President, Joe Ajaero, on whose behalf we write this letter in respect of the above subject matter.
“We have the instructions of Ajaero to inform you that he is unable to honour your invitation on Tuesday, August 20 in view of the fact that your invitation was received by him yesterday.
“He has an invitation that had been fixed before the receipt of the invitation letter.
“Therefore, Ajaero is prepared for your interview on Wednesday, August 29, 2024.
“Furthermore, in accordance with the provisions of Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as altered, Ajaero requests for the details and nature of the allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercafé leveled against him.
“While awaiting your response to this letter, please, accept the assurance of our highest esteem.”
The letter was signed on behalf of the Law Firm by Samuel Ogala.
The Police has been after the NLC since after the nationwide protest tagged #EndBadGovernance. Even though the NLC made it clear that it was not part of the protest, it, however, condemned the handling of the protest by the Police, especially, the killings of some protesters.
Thereafter, to the surprise of many, days later, the Police invaded the NLC Headquarters in Abuja at night and carted away a number of things, including, books.
After the initial denial by the Police following an uproar over the raid, the Police finally admitted its operatives carried out an operation there but said they were in pursuit of a foreign terrorist financier.
Inexplicably, it turned out, as has been established in their letter of invitation to Ajaero, that they were after him and, perhaps, the NLC Leadership.
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