Confirmation came from the Nigeria Labour Congress on Monday evening regarding the police summoning its President, Joe Ajaero, for alleged terrorism financing issues.
In a statement signed by the congress spokesperson, Benson Upah, the details were disclosed.
Earlier reports from NewsNow on Monday stated that Ajaero was invited for an “interview” by the police on charges related to “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, reasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime”.
Dated August 19, 2024, the invitation letter signed by ACP Adamu Mu’azu on behalf of the Commissioner of Police Intelligence mentioned Ajaero in ongoing probes regarding “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, reasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime”.
The letter instructed Ajaero to appear at the IRT Complex, Abbattoir by Guzape Junction on Tuesday, August 20 at 10 am, with a warning of a potential arrest warrant if he failed to comply.
Upah remarked in the statement, “A personal message sent to Comrade Joe Ajaero by SP Moshood stated, ‘We were at the Labour House to submit this (letter of invitation) but the place was locked, sir’.”
“We find this peculiar as the office was open beyond 6 pm. It was also noted that Comrade Joe Ajaero was not addressed by his official title of President of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“Clearly, more developments are expected following the raid on the Nigeria Labour Congress headquarters.
“Before the raid, the Congress had urged the government to engage in dialogue with the protest organizers, even though it clarified its non-participation in the protest.
“The Congress condemned the police for the casualties during the protest. In the NEC communique after the raid, the Congress expressed outrage at the police behavior and demanded apologies from the police and government.
“During its recent world press conference, the Congress raised concerns that if any harm befell its leadership or members, the police would be held responsible.
“The pressing question now is: Who is aiming to sideline Joe Ajaero?”
NewsNow reported a security operation on July 7 involving a night raid on the NLC headquarters in Abuja.
As per NLC spokesperson Upah, the operatives entered the building around 8.30 pm, apprehended the security guards, and compelled them to surrender office keys on the second floor.
Upah mentioned, “The security agents, some from the Nigeria Police Force, some in black tee-shirts likely from the Department of State Services, and others in plainclothes, targeted the 10th Floor of the NLC, apprehended the security guard on duty, and took him to the second floor to retrieve the office keys.”
The police took responsibility for the operation, stating it aimed to locate damning documents to bolster a case against an international “subversive” individual viewed as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Recently, the NLC dismissed the police’s explanation on the raid and demanded the release of detained members and confiscated documents.
Additionally, the NLC criticized government interference in the organization’s internal affairs, including proposed alterations to the tenure of trade union leaders.