*Labour Leader Arrested At Abuja Airport On Way To TUC-UK Conference
THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded the immediate release of its President, Mr. Joe Ajaero, who was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) on Monday morning, September 9, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his way to the United Kingdom (UK) to attend the ongoing Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference in London.
Although details and reasons for the arrest were still sketchy, but it was gathered that the Labour leader whisked away by the DSS and subsequently handed over to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
According to the NLC, in a statement by its Head of Information and Public Affairs, Mr. Benson Upah: “This morning, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, was seized and whisked away by agents of the Nigerian State, while on his way to the United Kingdom on the invitation of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain.
“Ajaero was set to attend and address the global gathering of workers on behalf of Nigerian workers at the Congress of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the UK, a platform where critical discussions on workers’ rights, social justice and economic fairness are discussed.
“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.
“We wish to categorically state that Ajaero has been detained without any legal warrant or formal instrument. Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive. His detention is, therefore, a brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation, as he has not been declared wanted by any law enforcement body.
“His detention is a brazen act of intimidation and completely unjustified under the laws of our nation. 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 also immoral, as well as a direct affront to the fundamental rights of citizens and organisations to lawfully express their views and carry out their activities.”
The statement added: “In light of this troubling development, the Congress puts all its affiliates, state councils, civil society allies and all patriotic Nigerians on the highest state of alert. The Congress will not stand idly by while the rights of its leaders and members are trampled upon.
“Accordingly, we demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Ajaero.
“Furthermore, we call on the international community, human rights organisations 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 Ajaero and the cessation of all forms of harassment against Labour leaders and the Nigerian working class, including innocent citizens who hold dissenting opinions.
“We equally demand that the state frees all Nigerians languishing in various prisons around the country for exercising their democratic rights to protest in the #EndBadGovernance rallies around the country.
“Finally, the Organs of the Congress are in a closed-door meeting, whose outcome will be made available to the public.”
Recall that Ajaero has been having a running battle with the Police, which had invited him twice for interrogation on charges related to alleged “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cyber crime,” the latest being via a letter, dated August 19, and signed by Adamu Mu’azu (ACP) on behalf of Commissioner of Police, Intelligence.
Ajaero had honoured the earlier invitation and had written to the Police, promising to make himself available, ostensibly after the UK trip.
One of his lawyers, Mr. Maxwell Opara, said the Police had retracted their earlier reasons for summoning his client, making it curious why DSS picked him up on his way out of the country.
