Femi Falana, lawyer for Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president Joe Ajaero, asserts his client's recent arrest by the DSS is unrelated to prior police invitations. Ajaero was detained at Abuja Airport while heading to a TUC conference, prompting concerns over the legality and motives behind his arrest.
Femi Falana, the human rights lawyer representing Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has stated that Ajaero’s recent arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS) is unrelated to a prior police invitation. Ajaero was apprehended on Monday morning at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja while attempting to board a flight to the UK for the ongoing Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference.
Falana clarified that the police had rescheduled their invitation for Ajaero, who had previously attended a police interrogation on August 29 regarding serious allegations, including terrorism financing and criminal conspiracy. However, he emphasized that the DSS failed to provide any reason for Ajaero's arrest, raising concerns over its legality.
The context of Ajaero's legal troubles stems from a police raid on the NLC headquarters on August 7, where authorities claimed to search for materials related to protests against bad governance. The police had warned Ajaero that failure to respond to their summons could lead to an arrest warrant. After the initial questioning, Falana confirmed that Ajaero had demanded clarity on the allegations against him, which had not been forthcoming.
As Ajaero faces ongoing scrutiny from security agencies, his arrest highlights the tense relationship between labor leaders and law enforcement in Nigeria. Falana continues to call for transparency regarding the charges and the motives behind Ajaero’s detention.
