*Photo: Joe Ajaero, NLC President*
Operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, on Monday morning arrested the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Ajaero was on his way to board a flight to the United Kingdom for an official engagement when he was taken into custody.
The NLC President was scheduled to attend a Trade Union Congress, TUC, conference in the UK.
While the specifics of his arrest remain unclear, it has been confirmed that Ajaero has been handed over to the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, for further questioning.
On August 20, he responded to a summon from the Intelligence Response Team, IRT,of the Nigerian Police Force, following allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.
Though initially unable to attend a police summon on August 19, Ajaero, through his legal counsel, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, explained the delay and promised to appear on August 29.
He kept this commitment, arriving at the Force Headquarters alongside Falana, Maxwell Opara, Deji Adeyanju, and other lawyers and labour leaders to address the charges. Joe Ajaero resumed his duties at the Labour House after his visit to the police.
