The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has described the arrest of Joe Ajaero, its president, as a “brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation”.
The labour union added that it has alerted all its affiliates, state councils, and Nigerian workers to remain vigilant and on high alert.
Ajaero was arrested on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja.
In a statement, Benson Upah, spokesperson of the NLC, said Ajaero was “whisked away by DSS agents on his way to the United Kingdom on the invitation of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain”.
Upah said Ajaero’s detention thwarted his plans to “represent Nigerian workers’ interests at a pivotal international labour conference”.
He also described the arrest as “an unmistakable demonstration of the height of lawlessness being perpetuated by the Nigerian government and its agencies in their bid to silence every voice of dissent and opposition in the country”.
“We wish to categorically state that Comrade Ajaero has been detained without any legal warrant or formal instrument. Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive,” the statement reads.
“His detention is a brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation, completely unjustified under the laws of our nation, as he has not been declared wanted by any law enforcement body.
“We are yet to ascertain his whereabouts or his state of health as all efforts we have made to get in touch with him have proved abortive.
“The mere contemplation of not just stopping a lawful citizen from travelling but also sequestering his freedom is an affront to our democratic and natural rights as a people and as workers.
“This is an unmistakable demonstration of the height of lawlessness being perpetuated by the Nigerian government and its agencies in their bid to silence every voice of dissent and opposition in the country as the economic policies of the government continues to afflict the people with monumental suffering and hardship.
“Such actions are not only undemocratic but immoral as well as a direct affront to the fundamental rights of citizens and organizations to lawfully express their views and carry out their activities.
“Furthermore, we call on the international community, human rights organizations, and all advocates of democracy to take note of this rising wave of authoritarianism in Nigeria.
“The world must bear witness to these assaults on human dignity, civil liberties, and the rule of law. The NLC remains resolute in its commitment to protecting workers’ rights and will not be cowed by the oppressive tactics of the state.
“Once again, we demand the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero and the cessation of all forms of harassment against labour leaders and the Nigerian working class including innocent citizens who hold dissenting opinions.”
Upah said the state should free all Nigerians jailed for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest, adding that the congress’ organs are in a closed-door meeting, with outcomes to be publicly disclosed.
BACKGROUND
On August 19, the police invited Ajaero for questioning over “a case of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime”.
The letter signed by Adamu Mu’azu, assistant commissioner of police, indicated that Ajaero was expected at the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) complex on August 20.
Mu’azu said an arrest warrant would be issued on Ajaero if he did not honour the invitation.
Ajaero declined the invitation, demanding details of the allegations levelled against him.
On August 7, police had raided the NLC building in the Central Business District of Abuja.
The NLC said operatives who raided the building “claimed that they were looking for seditious materials used for the #EndBadGovernance protests”.
Subsequently, Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), said one of the masterminds of the Sudan conflict was traced to the NLC headquarters.
The IGP added that police detectives traced the foreigner to a shop within the Labour House, and that operatives did not raid the entire secretariat.
Nigerians took to the streets from August 1-10 to protest against economic hardship and soaring inflation with #EndBadGovernance as the theme.
On August 29, some members of affiliate unions and labour leaders across states, converged on the Labour House ahead of Ajaero’s visit to the IRT.
Afterwards, Ajaero and Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, alongside other activists, left the building for the police headquarters.
