The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, recently faced questioning from the Police’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) over allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.
Despite the serious nature of these accusations, sources revealed that the interrogation lasted less than 30 minutes and focused on a specific issue related to a tenant at the NLC’s Labour House.
The police had invited Ajaero for questioning on August 20, following a letter sent to him on August 19. The session, which took place on Tuesday, was attended by notable human rights activists, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana, Maxwell Opara, Deji Adeyanju, and the leader of the IRT, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sanusi Mohammed. Operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) were also present.
According to sources, the interrogation centered on the operator of the Iva Valley Bookshop, located on the second floor of Labour House. Ajaero reportedly clarified that the individual in question was merely a tenant and that the relationship between the NLC and the tenant was purely that of landlord and tenant. He emphasized that there had been no consultation, telephone conversation, or written communication between the NLC and the suspect.
One source mentioned that Ajaero became frustrated during the session as the interrogators kept addressing him without acknowledging his official position as NLC President.
“In a normal situation, the Police ought to have just called the NLC President for the invitation and not written to him. They failed to do so because of their sinister motives,” the source stated.
The source said that the entire interaction felt more like a friendly chat than a formal interrogation.
After returning from the Force Headquarters, Ajaero addressed journalists at Labour House, where he dismissed the allegations as baseless and a distraction. He emphasized that the NLC could not be intimidated and that the labor movement would continue to stand firm in its commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers.
“Comrades, I want to thank every one of you in various state commands who have been praying since the last four days and can now break their fast,” Ajaero said.
He praised the labor movement’s patriotism and dedication, noting that it has been a steadfast institution in Nigeria since colonial times.
Ajaero stated, “We have gone there (Force Headquarters) and we are back. I just want to confirm to you that as a citizen, I have gone there and we are back here. You can’t do this job (trade unionism) we are doing without this type of hazard, it is expected.”
Reflecting on his past experiences, Ajaero recalled being detained alongside Femi Falana during the military regime of General Sani Abacha, indicating that such challenges are not new to him.
Ajaero made it clear that the NLC would not be swayed by external pressures, reiterating that the union has nothing to hide.
“We can’t be intimidated. The allegations against us are baseless and we have nothing to hide,” he declared.
He further explained that his appearance before the Police was necessary for transparency and to clear up the unfounded accusations. Ajaero assured the public that the NLC would continue its fight for the welfare of workers across the country, regardless of the challenges it faces.
He affirmed, “Our resolve is stronger than ever. We will continue to champion the cause of workers across the nation, no matter the obstacles.”