Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), came out of his police invitation on Thursday within an hour and called it a “distraction” from the struggle against critical issues facing Nigerian workers.
Ajaero made this statement after being released from the Abattoir Police office in the Guzape area of Abuja, where the police summoned him on charges including terrorism financing, criminal conspiracy, treasonable felony and cybercrime.
“Comrade, what is important is the circumstances that took me there. For whatever reason, we are out to continue the struggle. We are talking about the minimum wage, which has not been implemented,” Ajaero announced after his release.
“We must press for this as soon as possible, along with everything else that will improve the welfare of Nigerian workers. We will not listen to any distractions.”
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Accompanied by lawyers Femi Falana and Deji Adeyanju, along with several NLC members, Ajaero arrived at the police station on Thursday morning.
The NLC’s Central Working Committee, had also called for workers to march on police offices across Nigeria in solidarity with the congress’ president.
Congress President arrives Abattoir Police Office @ the Guzape Area of Abuja to honour Police Invitation. pic.twitter.com/gjYjdmNnPE— Nigeria Labour Congress HQ (@NLCHeadquarters) August 29, 2024
Congress President returns victorious to the Labour House , after honouring Police Invitation as a Law abiding Citizen. Addressing Workers after his return he appreciated all Workers for the show of great Solidarity Injury to one is an injury to all. pic.twitter.com/MiKkmE7NLg— Nigeria Labour Congress HQ (@NLCHeadquarters) August 29, 2024
Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), came out of his police invitation on Thursday within an hour and called it a “distraction” from the struggle against critical issues facing Nigerian workers.
Ajaero downplayed the police invitation as part of the challenges that come with labour leadership.
“You can’t do this job we do without expecting this. I told those calling me that this was just a hazard of the job. Even at the unit level, we’ve faced this before. Back in 1997 and 1998, some of us were in cells together, enjoying ourselves during the Abacha regime. But what matters now is the fight for workers’ rights,” he remarked.
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Ajaero is not the only one recently interrogated on such allegations. FIJ reported how Isaac Bristol, a leak journalist believed to be behind the PIDOM account on X, was similarly taken and mistreated in police custody on similar charges.
Earlier this month, FIJ’s founder, Fisayo Soyombo, was invited by the police and interrogated for eight hours on August 14 in Abuja.
Soyombo was later released on bail by the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC), after what was initially termed a routine invitation.
The post Joe Ajaero Out in a Flash, Calls Police Invitation a ‘Distraction’ From Struggle appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.