The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has responded to the police summons of its President, Joe Ajaero, over allegations of terrorism financing, among other serious offenses.
In a statement issued late Monday by Comrade Benson Upah, the NLC’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, the Congress confirmed the invitation and suggested that it may be connected to the recent raid on the NLC headquarters by security forces. The invitation letter, signed by ACP Adamu Muazu on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team, warned that a warrant for Ajaero’s arrest would be issued if he did not comply with the summons.
The NLC criticized the police for failing to address Ajaero by his official title in the letter. The statement read, “The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, has been invited by the Nigeria Police Force for an ‘interview’ on charges related to ‘criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.’”
According to the NLC, the letter, dated August 19, 2024, implicated Ajaero in ongoing investigations and directed him to report to the IRT Complex in Abuja on Tuesday, August 20th at 10:00 AM. The letter also threatened that an arrest warrant would be issued if Ajaero failed to appear.
A separate message from SP Moshood claimed that police officers attempted to deliver the letter in person at the Labour House, but found the building locked. The NLC disputed this account, stating, “We find this curious because staff were in the office beyond 6 PM.” The Congress also noted the omission of Ajaero’s official title, which they viewed as disrespectful.
The NLC’s response comes in the wake of a police raid on its headquarters, an action the Congress condemned. They asserted that the government should have engaged in dialogue with the protest organizers, and the Congress made it clear that it was not involved in the protest.
Following the raid, the NLC demanded apologies from both the police and the government, and in a press conference last Thursday, they warned that the police would be held accountable if any harm came to the leadership or members of the Congress.
The statement concluded with a pointed question: “The question on the lips of those in the know is, who wants Joe Ajaero out of circulation?”
