President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero knew why he was arrested by the Department of Security Services (DSS), a security source Monday confided in Blueprint.
The revelation came as the DSS continues to maintain stoic silence over the arrest as well as the raid on the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
Blueprint reports that both incidents came barely 72 hours after the deployment of the Service spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya, in line with the pledge by the new DSS Director General, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, to refocus the Service towards covertness and studied silence over certain matters.
The Service did not appoint a replacement for Afunanya before his deployment, fueling speculation that the public relations directorate may have been scrapped.
When our Blueprint correspondent called one of the phone numbers provided to the media by the immediate past DSS spokesman, the officer who received the call acknowledged it was the DSS office but told our correspondent the office would not be making any comment at the time.
He, however, directed Blueprint correspondent to send an email to a designated email account but there has been no response to the email at the time of filing this report.
A top DSS source however provided some insight into the reason(s) the labour leader was picked up at the Abuja airport.
The source who did not want the identity revealed because there was no formal permission to do that, said Ajaero knew why he was picked up.
“Our friend, Comrade Ajaero knew why our operatives prevented him from his journey abroad; he was actually intercepted at the Airport due to his failure to honour an invitation extended to him by the Service.
“An invitation, has been sent to him since last week concerning, a petition filed by top NLC leaders against him, and based on this, we have to invite him since the issues raised in the petition bothered on national security,” the source said.
“Our new Director General, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi inherited the matter, and when he resumed duty, he insisted that we invite the NLC president to clear the air on some of the allegations.
“Last week, we invited him (Ajaero) through the normal channel, which is on the telephone. A very senior director extended the invitation and was mandated to handle the investigation.
“Ajaero promised to come today, Monday. The next thing we heard was that Ajaero was sighted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, trying to board an international flight.
“No responsible security organisation will fold its hands in the face of such contempt. The law setting up the DSS empowers us to defend Nigeria against domestic threats, to uphold and enforce the criminal laws of Nigeria, and to provide leadership and criminal justice services to federal and state law-enforcement organs.”
…We’re not involved – Air Peace
Air Peace has distanced itself from the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero.
Ajaero was arrested by men of the Department of State Service on Monday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his way to the United Kingdom for an official assignment.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson for the airline, Omotade Makinwa, Air Peace said it was reacting to media reports insinuating that the secret police picked the NLC president over a petition submitted by the airline.
Makinwa noted that the report had created negative publicity for the airline.
Part of the statement reads: “Air Peace Airline expresses deep concern over recent media reports regarding the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in connection to a petition filed by the airline in September 2023. This development, which has led to negative publicity, does not reflect the current relationship between Air Peace and the NLC.
“It is important to clarify the events leading up to the petition. On the 3rd of May, 2023, the NLC disrupted Air Peace operations as part of a broader conflict with the Imo State government. Although Air Peace had no involvement in the dispute between the NLC and the Imo State government, our airline was unfortunately used as a tool to exert pressure on the government. This unlawful disruption of our services caused significant financial losses and impacted the travel plans of many Nigerians across multiple states.
“In response to this disruption, Air Peace’s legal team submitted a formal petition against the NLC to the Nigerian Police. Despite our repeated efforts to follow up on the petition, the Police failed to take prompt action.
“However, over a year later, the Nigerian Police have chosen to act on the original petition, which has now led to the alleged arrest of the NLC president. Prior to this arrest, the airline and the NLC had already reached an amicable resolution, and Air Peace had withdrawn its petition, allowing a positive working relationship to resume between the two organizations.”
…Release him unconditionally- ITUC-Africa
In similar development, the African regional organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) on Monday called for unconditional release of president of NLC Comrade Joe Ajaero who was arrested by the Nigerian government
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Comrade Akhator Joel Odigie, the group also condemned the arrest, describing it as escalation of a pattern of selected persecution.
The statement reads: “The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) unequivocally condemns the Nigerian Government’s alarming and unrelenting harassment of NLC leadership. As we write, the Nigerian Government has unlawfully detained the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
“Comrade Joe Ajaero, a respected advocate for workers’ rights, was en route to the United Kingdom to attend the Trade Union Congress (TUC) when he was forcibly detained by Nigerian security agents and prevented from travelling. His seizure, devoid of any legal basis, is a direct affront to the core principles of democracy, the rule of law and human rights. It is alarming that efforts to ascertain his whereabouts and state of health have been met with silence from the authorities.
“Comrade Joel Ajaero has not been charged with any crime. We don’t have information about any competent court issuing a warrant of arrest for him, nor has he been restricted from travelling outside the country via any judicial pronouncement. Therefore, comrade Joel Ajaero is not a flight risk, and so we wonder why he is being hounded and treated in an uncivil manner by the Nigerian state and its security agencies, agents, and officials.
“ITUC-AFRICA views these actions as representing the escalation of a pattern of stateled persecution, repression and intimidation against trade union leaders in Nigeria. The unjustified restriction, detention and incommunicado, carried out without any legal warrants, are nothing short of brazen acts of lawlessness and intimidation designed to silence dissenting voices at a time when Nigerian workers, people, households and communities are suffering under the crushing weight of the Government’s failed economic policies.”
…Arrest will preserve national interest – Odua Assembly
However, the Odua Peoples Assembly (OPA) has lent its supports to the Department of State Services (DSS), saying it was lawful and necessary for the secret police to arrest the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero.
According to a statement by Hon Adeyemi Olamide Shola, deputy speaker of the assembly, his arrest is not only justified but crucial to safeguarding the integrity of the nation.
“Claims by a certain civil society group that his detention will lead to anarchy are baseless, misleading, and an affront to the rule of law. Since when does arresting a lawbreaker causes anarchy? Is the law not supreme? We therefore declare that Ajaero’s involvement in providing a hideout for a foreigner to finance violent protests as part of a plot to overthrow the democratically elected government crosses the line into treason.
“His actions not only threaten Nigeria’s security but undermine the very foundations of our democracy. How can anyone expect leniency for such a serious offence? His position as NLC Chairman does not place him above the law.
“Much like other culprits already in detention, Ajaero must face the consequences of his actions. To suggest he should be spared implies that he is untouchable and this is unacceptable. His arrest by the DSS is necessary, timely and demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of justice. Those behind this foiled foreign-backed coup attempt must all be brought to justice, no exceptions,” he said.