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Tag: Ajaero

  • JUST IN: Labour leaders converge on NLC HQ as Ajaero honours Police invitation on alleged terrorism financing today

    JUST IN: Labour leaders converge on NLC HQ as Ajaero honours Police invitation on alleged terrorism financing today

    Labour leaders have converged on the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in solidarity with the President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who has been invited by the Police Force on allegations of terrorism financing.

    Ajaero is expected to visit the Police facility by 10:am today. 

    Read Also: Ajaero’s invitation: NLC directs members to converge on police commands

    As early as 8:am, the Labour leaders started converging on the NLC HQ to rally support for the number worker in the country. 

    They are expected to lead a peaceful procession to the police facility where Ajaero will be interrogated in respect to allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony.

    There is heavy presence of police operatives stationed few meters away from the NLC facility to maintain law and order. 

    Details Shortly…

  • JUST IN: NLC to embark on procession over Ajaero’s police invitation

    JUST IN: NLC to embark on procession over Ajaero’s police invitation

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed all its members nationwide to embark on a peaceful prayer procession on Aug. 29.

    Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary of NLC, said this in a letter addressed to all affiliates and state councils on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The letter is titled, “Mobilisation for Peaceful Procession and Prayer Session in Solidarity”.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Police had invited Joe Ajaero, NLC president for interrogation on charges related to alleged “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime”

    Ugboaja said that the procession is in response to the recent invitation by the Police to Ajaero, to appear for interrogation on trumped-up charges in Aug.

    “We call on all NLC affiliates and state councils to mobilise their members in Abuja and across the states to show solidarity.

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    “All Central Working Committee members resident in Abuja and other members, are expected to assemble at the National Headquarters of the NLC by 8:00 am on Aug. 29.

    “This is to accompany the President to the Police for the scheduled interaction,”he said.

    He said that those in the state capitals should gather at their respective state secretariats of Congress.

    Ugboaja urged them to embark on a peaceful procession to their State Police Headquarters, where they will hold a prayer session until the President’s interaction with the Police is concluded.

    “This peaceful march is a united stand against the unjust actions aimed at intimidating our leadership and stifling the voice of Nigerian workers.

    “We urge all members to remain peaceful and orderly throughout the procession and prayer session.

    “ If for any reason, the President is detained; all workers nationwide shall proceed on indefinite strike.

    “Your unwavering support and solidarity at this critical time are crucial to defending Civic rights and the integrity and rights of the labour movement.

    “Together, we shall overcome these challenges and continue to uphold justice, fairness, and democracy in our dear nation,” he said.

    (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

  • Ajaero, NLC effectively above the law

    Ajaero, NLC effectively above the law

    Lawyers, activists, opposition politicians, and trade union executives and members have all but deified the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president Joe Ajaero. Last Monday, the union leader was invited by the police for an interview on a number of allegations against him relating to terrorism financing, cybercrime, and treasonable felony. He declined the invitation through his lawyers, insisting that because of prior engagements, he could only present himself on August 29. The police are likely to ignore the arrogance in his response and wait for him till then. It is after all only days away. But immediately the NLC received the invitation, the union went ballistic, convened a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, and came out with fire-breathing resolutions. Among other measures, they would shut down the nation immediately the union leader was arrested, they threatened, including shutting down telecommunication services and the national grid. It is not clear whether there is any nation not at war that would allow such massive and disruptive shutting down of critical national infrastructure, but Nigeria allowed it the last time the NLC went on strike in June.

    After its Tuesday meeting the NLC NEC determined as follows: “The NEC notes with grave concern that rather than extending the apology demanded by the Congress for the earlier invasion of its national headquarters by security agencies, the Nigeria Police has chosen to embark on this spurious and fortuitous journey of intimidation, harassment, and witch-hunting. This is nothing but a travesty and a blatant attempt to stifle the voice of the working people and their leadership, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98.

    “The NEC directs all affiliates and state councils to immediately commence the process of mobilising their members across the nation. The Congress will not hesitate to take all necessary actions, including mass protests and industrial actions, to protect the integrity and independence of the labour movement. If anything happens to the President of the Congress or any other leader of the Congress in furtherance of these tendentious allegations by the State, NEC puts all its affiliates and state councils on notice to proceed on indefinite nationwide strike action by 12:00 Midnight today (Tuesday).

    “The NEC calls on all civil society allies and the general populace to stand in solidarity with the Nigeria Labour Congress in this critical moment. The fight against injustice and oppression is a collective one, and we urge all Nigerians to rise in defence of our shared democratic values.”

    The Tuesday NLC NEC meeting was a sad day for democracy and unionism in Nigeria. Effectively, the NLC put the cart before the horse and indicated that they and their president were above the law. For a union that hypes the need for the rule of law and due process to prevail, and worries about what it considers the decline of democratic practices due to collapsing institutional guardrails, it is shocking that they thought nothing of their contempt for due process. It is of course possible for the administration to nurse a grudge against Labour, and even more possible that it might want to harass the union. However, what the police issued was in the interim nothing but an invitation to Mr Ajaero to clarify the allegations against him. Should the NLC not have waited to hear out the police? Should they not have waited to see whether their leader would be detained? Would the police, pursuant to the invitation, not at one point or the other be forced to issue a statement detailing what transpired between them and the union leader had Mr Ajaero honoured the invitation? At what point does an invitation amount to harassment? And what shared democratic values are they talking about? The NLC neither knows what that means nor respects it.

    Read Also: Ajaero: He who comes to equity…

    From the three paragraphs quoted from the NLC NEC statement above, a few disturbing things emerge. Firstly, the union has become so badly politicised that it now sees itself as one of the three legs of the official political opposition. Secondly, it is alarming that the NLC acts like a herd, with no voice of reason or caution among its leaders. They are giddy with excitement and heady and impatient about issues pertaining to the current administration. Thirdly, it is remarkable that just one invitation was enough to cause the NLC to jump to so many conclusions, including describing the police letter as ‘spurious’, a ‘witch-hunt’, and an ‘intimidation’, etc.

    Better judgement should have led the NLC to wait to know what the police had on Mr Ajaero. As a matter of fact, whatever actions the NLC opted for would have been informed by the outcome of the interview. Even more depressing, the NLC seems to be saying that Mr Ajaero as an individual could never run foul of the law, and that the Labour leader is equivalent to the NLC and vice versa, in short that he is indistinguishable from the union. Is this the sad depth the union has sunk that it will not wait to weigh the evidence the police claimed to have against their leader? And in any case, what is Mr Ajaero afraid of: arrest, detention or damning evidence? He has led series of harassing industrial actions against the government; why is he loth to be harassed, if indeed he is being intimidated? Neither the NLC nor its leaders are above the law. After all, they have erased the dividing line between the union and its political subsidiary, the Labour Party (LP). They cannot expect to be treated solely as Organised Labour, behind which they take refuge to play partisan politics of the most pernicious type.

    When next the NLC attempts to shut down the national grid or cut telecommunication services like coup plotters do, they must be prepared for the repercussions, for there is nothing in Nigerian law that gives them the right to levy such catastrophe on the nation. Mr Ajaero has promised to make himself available later this week; he had better, if he is not to send the signal that he and the union are effectively above the law. After the interview, he should address the press and give the public insight into why the police longed to have his company, especially after they stormed a shop located inside the Labour House building in Abuja.

  • Ajaero: He who comes to equity…

    Ajaero: He who comes to equity…

    • By Kola Amzat

    Sir: Recently, detachment of the nation security team led by the Police stormed NLC Headquarters in Abuja to apprehend a suspected terrorist allegedly harboured on the second floor of the NLC complex.

    Even though the authorities have not disclosed the name of the suspect, they have gone ahead to invite the president of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, for questioning, on account of alleged incriminating, indicting and damning correspondence they claimed to have scooped from the second floor of the Labour complex.

    What Nigerians of discerning mind expected the NLC president to do is honour the invitation with a view to defending himself. It is therefore most unfortunate that Comrade Ajaero and his executive council members have opted to make a big issue out of the whole thing.

    They have decided to throw the entire country into confusion and apprehension simply because of letter of invite from the Police to their president. They have even resolved to place workers across the country on red-alert should Ajaero be detained by the police.

     Are they inferring that the labour leader is above the laws of the land? Are they inferring that he’s at liberty to conduct himself in a way and manner that is injurious and inimical to the laws of the land?

    The way and manner that the labour leadership have gone about the whole issue clearly suggested that, they indeed have some things to hide.

    Does Ajaero truly believe that the office he occupies gives him liberty and freedom to involve himself in treasonable acts, and security agencies would just be looking other way, because he leads the Labour movement?

    Is he equally aware that it’s only the president and governors of 36 states that enjoy immunity from prosecution; not even, Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives and other National Assembly members?   

    It’s auspicious for Ajaero to come down from his high horse, hug humility and stop deploying his office to settle personal scores with the government, its agencies and security forces.

    Nigerians vividly recall that it’s the same Ajaero that got himself enmeshed in unnecessary struggles with security agencies in Owerri at beginning of this year.

    Read Also: Tinubu hails judicial contributions to national growth, development

     Suffice to submit that his tenure as NLC president has been uneventful, riotous, very disruptive and destructive.       

    Nigeria Labour Congress is created to advance the cause of workers across the federation, as well as tactfully, constructively and strategically defend the workers interests with a view to making them stakeholders in the Nigerian project, and, more importantly, collaborate with the government to build a prosperous and developed country.

    It’s not for NLC leadership to continually pitch the workers across the country against the government, through incitement, and casting aspersions on the leadership of government.

    Is it not the same NLC platform that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole rode to become governor of Edo State, APC national chairman and now senator? Is it not the same NLC office through which the late Paschal Bafyau nearly became the vice president?

    One recalls that the immediate past NLC president, Aliyu Wabba was an embodiment of maturity, decorum, knowledge and decency in office!

    Comrade Ajaero must change his ways if he wants to earn respect and honour.

    This is certainly not how to lead labour movement of a country with vibrant and vast population of about 230-240 million people and the largest black nation in the world.

    He is advised to promptly honour the letter of invite of police.

    •Kola Amzat (FCA, FCIB)

    Lagos.

  • Ajaero and the law

    Ajaero and the law

    Ever since he became Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president, Joe Ajaero has enjoyed tremendous visibility. He is  virtually everywhere. He is in the news again. On Monday, the police invited him for questioning over alleged terrorism. He was asked to report yesterday. He wrote back through his lawyers that he would not honour the invitation because of its clash with a ‘prior appointment’. I do not know the nature of this ‘prior appointment’. But can it be more important than answering a call to clear himself of an allegation as weighty as terrorism?

    Read Also: Alleged terrorism financing, others: Ajaero reschedules appointment with police

    Ajaero, his lawyers and NLC should know that nobody is above the law. The police extended courtesy to him by inviting him. Not many Nigerians enjoy that kind of privilege. If the police arrest him today for not honouring their invitation, heavens will not fall. NLC should stop threatening to call for a nationwide strike anytime Ajaero has a spat with the police or the government. The threat will not stop the police from doing their work.

  • Alleged terrorism financing, others: Ajaero reschedules appointment with police

    Alleged terrorism financing, others: Ajaero reschedules appointment with police

    • Labour threatens action over police invitation

    Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero did not honour an invitation the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) extended to him over alleged terrorism financing, among others.

    The labour leader said he had already scheduled other engagements for the day, promising to honour the police invitation next Wednesday, August 29.

    On Monday, the police summoned Ajaero for questioning over an alleged link to terrorism financing, cybercrime and other allegations.

    A letter from the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Intelligence Response Team) in the Department of Force Intelligence named the allegations.

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    The letter, which was signed by Adamu S. Muazu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), threatened that should Ajaero fail to honour the invitation, the police would arrest him.

    Responding through a letter he wrote to the police through his lawyer, Femi Falana Chambers, Ajaero expressed his readiness to answer all questions the police may want to ask him over the allegations.

    The Nation reports that Ajaero’s response letter, which was signed by Samuel Ogala for the principal partner of the law chamber, said the NLC president was asking for the details of the allegations levelled against him.

    It reads: “We are solicitors to the Nigeria Labour Congress and its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, on whose behalf we write this letter in respect of the above subject matter.

    “We have the instructions of Comrade Joe Ajaero to inform you that he is unable to honour your invitation on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, in view of the fact that your invitation letter was received by him yesterday (Monday).

    “He has an engagement that had been fixed before the receipt of the invitation letter. Therefore, Comrade Ajaero is prepared for your interview on Wednesday, August 29, 2024.

    “Furthermore, in accordance with the provisions of Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as altered, Comrade Ajaero requests the details and nature of the allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime levelled against him.

    “While awaiting your positive response to this letter, please accept the assurances of our highest esteem.”

    Our correspondent, who visited the headquarters of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) at Guzape junction in Abuja yesterday, confirmed that the letter had been delivered.

    A senior police officer, who did not want to be named, said: “The interview has been cancelled. NLC officials came and they left. I think they only came to submit a document.”

    Efforts to get an official reaction of the police on their next line of action were futile last night, as no one was willing to talk. 

    Also, the leadership of the NLC yesterday threatened to begin mass protests and strike should anything happen to Ajaero.

    The umbrella labour union said the invitation of its leader was premised on a “clearly unfounded and politically motivated investigation by the police”.

    NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC) resolved that Ajaero would honour the police invitation but sought more time for him to appear before the police authorities.

    In a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting yesterday, the NLC urged its state councils and affiliates to remain on standby for further directives, should the police act contrary to their expectation.

  • JUST IN: NLC president Ajaero shuns police invitation on terrorism financing, others

    JUST IN: NLC president Ajaero shuns police invitation on terrorism financing, others

    President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, on Tuesday, August 20, refused to honour an invitation by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) for an interview regarding the allegation of terrorism financing, amongst other heavy allegations against him.

    The labour leader, however, said he would honour the invitation next Wednesday, August 29, 2024, saying he had already scheduled other engagements for today.

    On Monday, the police summoned Ajaero for questioning over an alleged link to terrorism financing, cybercrime and other allegations.

    This was contained in a letter issued from the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police Intelligence Response Team, Department of Force Intelligence.

    The letter, which was signed by Adamu S. Muazu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, threatened that failure to honour the invitation would lead to arrest.

    But Ajaero, speaking through a letter written to the police by his lawyer, Falana Chambers, expressed readiness to answer all questions the police wanted to pose to him during the interview on the allegations.

    The Nation reports that the letter, which was signed by Samuel Ogala for principal Partner of the Chamber, said Ajaero was requesting the details of the allegations levelled against him.

    The letter reads in part: “We are solicitors to the Nigeria Labour Congress and its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, on whose behalf we write this letter in respect of the above subject matter.

    “We have the instructions of Comrade Joe Ajaero to inform you that he is unable to honour your invitation on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, in view of the fact that your invitation letter was received by him yesterday (Monday).

    “He has an engagement that had been fixed before the receipt of the invitation letter. Therefore, Comrade Ajaero is prepared for your interview on Wednesday, August 29, 2024.

    Read Also: Alleged terrorism: Ajaero to honour Police invitation 

    “Furthermore, in accordance with the provisions of Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as altered, Comrade Ajaero requests the details and nature of the allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime levelled against him.

    “While awaiting your positive response to this letter, please accept the assurances of our highest esteem”.

    Our correspondent who visited the headquarters of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, located at Guzape junction, Abuja, Tuesday morning confirmed that the letter has been delivered.

    A senior police officer who pleaded anonymity said: “The interview has been cancelled. The labour people came and they left. I think they only came to submit a document.

    All efforts to get the official reaction of the police on the next line of action were futile as no one was willing to talk. 

  • Alleged terrorism: Ajaero to honour Police invitation 

    Alleged terrorism: Ajaero to honour Police invitation 

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says its President, Mr Joe Ajaero will honour the invitation by the Nigeria Police Force for investigation over alleged terrorism, subversion.

    Mr Kabiru Sani, NLC Deputy President said the Congress arrived at the decision at its emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja with some executives joining virtually.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalled that the Police invited Ajaero for interrogation on charges related to alleged “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cyber crime”.

    Sani said NEC maintained the position that Ajaero’s invitation was premised on a clearly unfounded and politically motivated investigation, yet, they would honour the summon.

    “As a responsible labour centre committed to the rule of law and due process, the NLC shall honour the invitation extended to its President by the Nigeria Police but will demand for extension of time given the nature of the invitation,” he said.

    Sani said NEC also resolved that, if anything happened to Ajaero leader on the process, the labour movement would not hesitate to embark on nationwide protest and strike action.

    “The Congress will not hesitate to take all necessary actions, including mass protests and industrial actions, to protect the integrity and independence of the labour movement.

    “NLC will take the actions if anything happens to the President of the Congress or any other leader of the Congress in furtherance of these tendentious allegations by the State.

    “NEC has puts all its affiliates and state councils to proceed on indefinite nationwide strike action by 12:00 midnight today,”he said.

    Sani said the NEC had directed all its affiliates and state councils to immediately commence the process of mobilising their members across the nation.

    He also called on all civil society allies and the general populace to stand in solidarity with the Nigeria Labour Congress in its critical moment.

    According to him, the fight against injustice and oppression is a collective one, all Nigerians must, therefore rise in defense of shared democratic values.

    Read Also: NLC threatens industrial actions over police invitation of Ajaero

    Sani  condemned the continued harassment of the leadership of the NLC, describing it as  calculated attempt to weaken and destabilise the labour movement, which.

    According to him, NLC has always stood as a bastion of democratic principles and the voice of the Nigerian masses.

    He warned the state to desist from its evil intentions and stop the ongoing witch-hunt against the leaders of the Congress forthwith.

    According to him, the Congress will not sit idly while the rights and freedoms of its members and leaders are trampled upon with impunity by the State.

    (NAN)

  • NLC threatens industrial actions over police invitation of Ajaero

    NLC threatens industrial actions over police invitation of Ajaero

    The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) has threatened to commence mass protests and industrial actions in the event that anything happens to its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero who has been invited by the Police on allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony.

    The union said this on Tuesday morning at its headquarters after an emergency National Executive Council meeting to discuss the invitation of the NLC President by the Police on Monday.

    The NLC said the invitation of its leader was premised on a “clearly unfounded and politically motivated investigation by the Police.”

    The NEC resolved that Ajaero would honour the police invitation but sought for more time for the NLC President to appear before the police authorities.

    Read Also: Alleged terrorism financing, others: Police invite NLC boss Ajaero

    In a communique at the end of the meeting on Tuesday, the NLC urged its state councils and affiliates to remain on standby for further directives should the police act contrary to their expectation.

    It reads: “As a responsible labour centre committed to the rule of law and due process, the NLC shall honour the invitation extended to its President by the Nigeria Police but will demand for extension of time given the nature of the invitation. However, we wish to state unequivocally that this does not in any way legitimise the baseless allegations levelled against him.

    “The NEC directs all affiliates and state councils to immediately commence the process of mobilising their members across the nation. The Congress will not hesitate to take all necessary actions, including mass protests and industrial actions, to protect the integrity and independence of the labour movement. If anything happens to the President of the Congress or any other leader of the Congress in furtherance of these tendentious allegations by the State.

    “NEC puts all its affiliates and state councils to proceed on indefinite nationwide strike action by 12:00 Midnight today.

    “The NEC calls on all civil society allies and the general populace to stand in solidarity with the Nigeria Labour Congress in this critical moment. The fight against injustice and oppression is a collective one, and we urge all Nigerians to rise in defense of our shared democratic values.”

  • Alleged terrorism financing, others: Police invite NLC boss Ajaero

    Alleged terrorism financing, others: Police invite NLC boss Ajaero

    The police yesterday threatened to issue warrant of arrest on Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero should he fail to appear before an investigative panel today.

    Ajaero got an invitation yesterday from the police over alleged terrorism financing, treasonable felony, cybercrime and other related offences.

    He was asked to show up at the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) Office, Old Abattoir by Guzape Junction, Abuja.

    The letter dated yesterday and signed on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Intelligence Response Team by Adamu Muazu, an Assistance Commissioner of Police (ACP), warned that a warrant of arrest would be issued if Ajaero fails to comply.

    It reads: “This office is investigating a case of Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion and Cybercrime in which you have been implicated.

    “You are therefore required to report to the undersigned for an interview on Tuesday, 20th August, 2024, at 10:00 hrs prompt, at Old Abattoir by Guzape Junction, Abuja, through the Team Leader on telephone no 08035179870, in connection with the above investigation. Be informed that if you fail to honour this letter, this office will have no choice but to issue a warrant for your arrest.”

    Ajaero’s invitation came a week after security operatives raided some business premises operating with Abuja Headquarters of the NLC.

    The raid drew flaks from Labour leaders, who linked it to the nationwide protests against economic hardship. They demanded an unreserved apology from the police.

    Read Also: Kill bandits, not protesters, Ajaero tells Police

    But the police said that their operatives were in search of some incriminating documents to establish a case against an international “subversive” element that is a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

    Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi, who featured on television on August 12, said the raided NLC Complex had a suspect housed in one of its floors.

    Faulting the police explanations on what motivated the raid, the union, through its Head of Communications/Corporate Affairs, Benson Upah, described the police claim of tracing a suspected international criminal to the building as laughable.

    It challenged the police to come up with proof of any relationship with the alleged criminal.