The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, was detained by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Ajaero was preparing to board a flight to the United Kingdom for an official assignment when the arrest occurred.
While specific details of the arrest remain unclear, reports indicate that Ajaero has been handed over to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) for further questioning.
The NLC leader was reportedly on his way to attend a Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference scheduled to take place in the UK on Monday.
Ajaero’s arrest comes against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny by security agencies.
On August 20, Ajaero responded to a summons from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigerian Police Force, following an earlier notice on August 19.
The summons involved serious allegations, including criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.
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Despite initially expressing his inability to meet the August 19 deadline through human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), Ajaero complied with the police summons and appeared at the Force Headquarters on August 29.
He was accompanied by Falana and other legal representatives to address the accusations.
However, just a day after his appearance, the Police issued another summons for both Ajaero and NLC General Secretary Emma Ugboaja, demanding their presence on September 5. This subsequent summons involved allegations of criminal intimidation, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, and malicious damage to property.
The arrest of Ajaero is likely to escalate tensions between the NLC and security agencies, especially as it follows closely on the heels of multiple legal and criminal accusations against him.
The situation remains fluid, with further developments expected as investigations continue. The NLC has yet to issue an official statement regarding Ajaero’s arrest and its potential impact on ongoing labor activities in the country.