LAGOS — Arrested Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, was released late Monday by the Department of State Services, DSS, following widespread condemnation nationwide.
National Reports was informed by one of the NLC leaders that Ajaero was released at about 11.10 p.m. yesterday.
Ajaero was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, on his way to London to attend the Trade Union Congress, TUC, of the United Kingdom conference.
The arrest came 11 days after he honoured an invitation by the Police on August 29, and was released the same day.
Legal adviser to NLC, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, said the arrest of his client was not connected with an earlier invitation by the Police.
Also, the NLC dismissed insinuations that Ajaero was arrested for failing to honour an invitation by the DSS or any other security agency.
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC; National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE; Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN; Amnesty International; Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; United Action Front of Civil Society, UAFCS; and Human Rights Writers Association, HURIWA, condemned the arrest and called for his immediate release.
The NLC demanded immediate and unconditional release of Ajaero before 12 midnight yesterday and placed all its affiliates, state councils, civil society allies, and the Nigerian populace on red alert.
The NLC also demanded the immediate reversal of the hike in the price of petrol.
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, put employers and other stakeholders in the nation’s maritime industry on notice over his arrest.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the DSS to end the intimidation and harassment and attack against its organization.
The DSS laid siege to SERAP’s Abuja office yesterday, following its position on the recent increase in the price of petrol.
Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, and Amnesty International condemned the invasion of SERAP’s office.
Do you have a story to share? Want to advertise with us? Or perhaps you need publicity for a product, service, or event?
Contact us:WhatsApp: +2348165713606 Email: nationalreports001@gmail.com
We'd love to hear from you!"
