Breaking: NLC confirms arrest of Joe Ajero by DSS at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC) has confirmed the arrest of its President, Joe Ajero by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on Monday 9, September 2024.

According to the spokesperson of NLC,Benson Upah, who’s spoke to Nation Update, Ajero was on his way to the United Kingdom for the Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference in the UK scheduled for Monday.

Though details relating to his arrest remain unclear, some media reports suggest that Ajaero has been handed over to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) for further questioning.

The labour leader was on his way to attend a Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference in the UK scheduled for Monday.

There has been recent invitation to Ajero by the Nigerian Police Force(NPF). On August 20, he responded to a summons from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the NPF following an earlier notice from the Police on August 19. The summons involved allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.

Despite initially explaining his inability to meet the August 19 deadline through human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), Ajaero appeared at the Force Headquarters on August 29 with Falana and other legal representatives to address the accusations.

Just a day after this appearance, the Police issued another summons, calling for Ajaero and NLC General Secretary Emma Ugboaja to appear on September 5. This second summons concerned criminal intimidation, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, and malicious damage to property allegedly leveled on him.