The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has declined an immediate invitation from the Nigerian Police, related to serious allegations.
Ajaero, through a letter dated August 20, 2024, and signed by Barrister Samuel Ogala of the Falana and Falana Chambers, explained his inability to meet the police’s demands due to prior commitments.
In the letter addressed to Deputy Commissioner of Police and Inspector General of Police, Intelligence Response Team, Mohammed Ahmed Sanusi, Ajaero stated that he had received the invitation on Monday and already had engagements for Tuesday. He committed to attending the rescheduled meeting on Wednesday, August 29, 2024, and sought clarity on the nature of the allegations.
The letter partly reads, “We have the instructions of Comrade Joe Ajaero to inform you that he is unable to honour your invitation on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, due to the short notice, having only received the letter yesterday. He has a prior engagement scheduled before the receipt of your letter. Comrade Ajaero is, however, prepared to attend the meeting on Wednesday, August 29, 2024.”
Ajaero also invoked constitutional rights under Section 36 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended), requesting further details on the allegations against him, including criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.
According to The WHISTLER, the Nigeria Police Force summoned Ajaero for questioning over these allegations, with the invitation letter signed by ACP Adamu Muazu on behalf of the Intelligence Response Team. The letter also cautioned that a warrant for his arrest could be issued if he failed to comply.
In response, the NLC leadership accused the Federal Government of attempting to silence workers’ voices by targeting their leader. Speaking after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, NLC Deputy President Ado Sani Minjibir condemned the police’s actions as “intimidation, harassment, and witch-hunting.” He further described the invitation as a “travesty” and a blatant effort to suppress the rights of workers, as protected by both the Nigerian Constitution and International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98.
Despite these accusations, Minjibir assured that Ajaero would honor the police invitation, though this should not be viewed as an admission of guilt regarding the charges brought against him.
