Police interrogation: Labour movement worth dying for – Ajaero

The President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, on Thursday, said he had since long known the challenges associated with being a labour leader in Nigeria, which is a movement that checks the government’s high-handedness, saying the movement is worth dying for. He, however, said neither the congress nor him would be intimidated, harassed […]

The President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, on Thursday, said he had since long known the challenges associated with being a labour leader in Nigeria, which is a movement that checks the government’s high-handedness, saying the movement is worth dying for.

He, however, said neither the congress nor him would be intimidated, harassed or cowed by any external forces with allegations he described as “baseless”, while asserting that the NLC remains committed to defending the rights of Nigerian workers.

Ajaero, who stated this at Labour House, Abuja after he left the headquarters of Intelligence Response Team located at Guzape junction in the nation’s capital, maintained that his ordeal would not be the first as labour leaders had encountered such scenario in the past.

Ajaero, who was invited last week by the police to come and provide explanations to the allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy and treasonable felony, arrived at the IRT office at about 10:15 a.m and left some minutes past 11a.m.

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Ajaero was accompanied to the venue of the questioning by his lawyer, Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria; another senior lawyer, Maxwell Opara; popular human rights activists, Deji Adeyanju; Marshal Abubakar and some senior officials of the NLC.

Our reporter, who monitored the development all through, gathered that the labour leader was given a “statement sheet” to put down all what he knew regarding the questions that were posed to him by some officers at the police unit.

Speaking after the visit, Ajaero told journalists that the circumstances surrounding his recent questioning are part of the ongoing struggle for workers’ rights, arguing that similar experience was also witnessed in 1998.

“For whatever is the case, we are out to continue the struggle, we have gotten minimum wage, but it has not been implemented so we have to press for its implementation as soon as possible. Every other thing that will make the welfare of the Nigerian workers to be worthwhile, we will be involved in it.

“We will not listen to any distraction. On behalf of the NLC NAC and NEC, and CWC and the level of solidarity they showed here, I want to thank everyone of you. I didn’t know say una love me like this,” the labour leader said.

Meanwhile, Maxwell Opara, who spoke on behalf of NLC lead counsel, Femi Falana, SAN, said that the inclusion of terrorism financing and treason allegations in the summons letter to Ajaero by the Nigeria Police may have been a mistake.

According to him, the allegations were not discussed during Ajaero’s interview with the police at the IRT office, disclosing that the police only asked about a tenant at the NLC headquarters popularly known as the Labour House.

Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State leadership of the Nigerian Labour NLC and their counterparts in the Trade Union Congress (TUC) yesterday warned the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokum not to enforce the hands of the Biblical Herodias in the ongoing interrogation of their national president, Comrade Joe Ajeoro at the force headquarters, Abuja.

The State Chairman of NLC, Prof. Agwu Ogogwu gave this warning when members of the labour unions on Thursday staged a peaceful protest over the invitation/interrogation of their national president in Abuja.

The protesters took off from Pa Ngele Oruta township stadium, Abakaliki to Ebonyi State Police Headquarters, where they were received by top officers of the command led by Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Mr. Denis Anyiya.