Tuesday, September 10, 2024 - President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajero, who was arrested in the early hours of Monday by the Department of State Service (DSS), was released late Monday night on bail.
Although a litany of condemnations had trailed the labour
leader’s arrest over yet-to-be disclosed offences as well as the invasion of
the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project
(SERAP), allegedly by the DSS, Ajaero was released at exactly 11:05 last night,
according to an Assistant Secretary of the NLC, Mr. Chris Onyeka, who confirmed
the development to THISDAY in a telephone conversation.
The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had asked the
federal government to release Ajaero immediately and unconditionally, latest by
midnight.
The Global rights group, Amnesty International and the
United Action Front of Civil Society, had also condemned the arrest and
detention of Ajaero, by the DSS, saying President Bola Tinubu was setting a new
record of impunity.
But Air Peace Airlines Limited had denied any involvement in the arrest of the
labour leader, contrary to speculations.
Ajaero was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport Abuja and prevented from boarding his flight to attend a scheduled
meeting of the International Trade Union Congress in the United Kingdom.
There are speculations that his arrest was
not unconnected with his refusal to honour invitations of the undercover
police, as well as a petition against him by an airline operator.
The Service had reiterated its new public communication policy of covertness
and the likelihood of studied silence over certain matters.
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