The Nigerian Police Force has summoned the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, for questioning regarding allegations of terrorism financing, treasonable felony, cybercrime, and other serious offences.
The police have warned that a warrant of arrest may be issued if Ajaero fails to comply with the invitation, raising concerns about the escalating tensions between the government and the nation’s foremost labor union.
The invitation, dated August 19, 2024, was signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Adamu Muazu on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team.
The letter directs Ajaero to report for an interview on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at 10:00 am at the Old Abattoir by Guzape Junction, Abuja. The investigation, according to the letter, stems from a case involving alleged criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treason, subversion, and cybercrime, in which Ajaero has been implicated.
The letter, which has sparked significant concern within the NLC, reads: “This office is investigating a case of Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion, and Cybercrime in which you have been implicated.
“You are therefore required to report to the undersigned for an interview… Be informed that if you fail to honour this letter, this office will have no choice but to issue a warrant for your arrest.”
The NLC has responded to the police invitation, linking it to a recent raid on its headquarters in Abuja. In a statement, the NLC’s Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs, Benson Upah, expressed outrage at the police action and suggested that the invitation is part of an ongoing effort to intimidate the union’s leadership.
Upah’s statement highlighted the growing tension between the NLC and the government, particularly in the wake of recent protests and strikes over government policies.
“Clearly, the last has not been heard about the raid on the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress,” Upah said. He emphasised that the NLC had previously advised the government to engage in dialogue with the organizers of recent protests, even as the Congress had clarified that it was not directly involved.
Upah also criticized the police for the high casualty rate during the protests and noted that the NLC had demanded an apology from both the police and the government for their actions.
The police raid on the NLC headquarters occurred just over a week ago, adding to the already tense atmosphere between the labor union and the government.
Meteor Nigeria reported that security operatives stormed the NLC complex in Abuja, allegedly searching for incriminating documents that could link the union to international subversive activities. The police claimed that they were investigating a case involving a foreign element posing a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on August 12, 2024, where he attempted to justify the raid. Adejobi stated that the police were acting on intelligence suggesting that the NLC headquarters housed a suspect linked to the alleged subversive activities.
However, the NLC leadership has vehemently denied these claims, describing them as baseless and accusing the police of attempting to smear the union’s reputation.
In a press conference held at the NLC Secretariat in Abuja last Thursday, Upah dismissed the police’s explanation for the raid as laughable. He challenged the police to provide evidence of any relationship between the NLC and the alleged international criminal, asserting that the union had no involvement in such activities.
Upah further demanded an unreserved apology from the police, arguing that the raid was an unjustified attack on the labor movement.
