Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has clarified that the arrest of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), by the Department of State Services (DSS) is not connected to an earlier invitation by the Nigeria Police Force. Ajaero was detained on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while on his way to the United Kingdom to attend a Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference.
Falana, who is representing Ajaero, revealed that the police invitation to his client, originally scheduled for last week, had been rescheduled, and there was no link between this and his arrest by the DSS. “Comrade Ajaero was on his way to London to attend the ongoing TUC conference when he was arrested at the airport this morning by the DSS. No reason has been provided for the arrest by the DSS,” Falana stated.
Daily Post recalls that Ajaero had previously honored a police invitation on August 29 over allegations including criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.
Falana emphasized that despite contacting the police authorities, the arrest remains unexplained, raising concerns over the violation of Ajaero’s rights and due process.
