Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has been invited by the Nigeria police over terrorism allegations. An emergency National Executive Council, NEC, meeting has been summoned by the NLC over the police invitation.
A circular dated August 19, 2024, entitled: “Notice of emergency National Executive Council (NEC) hybrid meeting, signed by the NLC General Secretary, Comrade Emma Ugboaja, invited all State Council Chairpersons and Secretaries, all Presidents and General Secretaries, all NAC members, and the NLC Youth Chairperson.
It read: “I bring you fraternal greetings from the Congress headquarters.
“You are invited to the Emergency National Executive Council (NEC) Hybrid meeting scheduled as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 20th August 2024
Time:: 08:00 am.
“NEC members in and around Abuja are encouraged to join physically at the Labour House, Abuja. Your attendance will be of utmost importance.”
Meanwhile, the NLC has expressed suspicion over the allegation against its president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, by the police.
A statement issued by the head of Information and Public Affairs, Comrade Benson Upah, noted that the police, in the invitation, failed to address Ajaero by his appropriate designation.
The statement read: “The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, has been invited by the Nigeria Police Force for “interview” on charges connected to “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cyber crime “.
“The letter of invitation signed by ACP Adamu Mu’azu on behalf of Commissioner of Police Intelligence dated August 19, 2024, says Ajaero’s name was mentioned in on-going investigations connected to “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”
“Accordingly, the letter directed Ajaero to report at the IRT Complex, Abattoir by Guzape Junction, on Tuesday, August 20th at 10:00, threatening that a warrant of arrest would be issued against him if he failed to report.
“A personal message sent to. Comrade Joe Ajaero by SP Moshood said, “We were at the Labour House to submit this (letter of invitation) but the place was locked, sir”.
“We find this curious because staff were in the office beyond 6 pm.
“We also note that Comrade Joe Ajaero was not addressed by his official title of President of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“Clearly, the last has not been heard about the raid on the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“Preceding the raid, Congress had advised government to dialogue with the organisers of the protest even as Congress had early stated it was not part of the protest.
“Congress criticised the police for the high casualty rate during the protest.
“Congress in its NEC communique after the raid expressed outrage at the behaviour of the police and demanded for an apology from both the police and government.
“At its world press conference last Thursday, Congress had raised an alarm that should anything happen to the leadership of the Congress or any of its members, the police should be held accountable.
“The question on the lips of those in the know is, who wants Joe Ajaero out of circulation.”
