The Police High Command has summoned the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, for investigation over allegations of terrorism financing, treasonable felony, cybercrime and other related offences.
Signed by ACP Adamu Muazu on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team, the invitation letter dated August 19, 2024, warned that a warrant of arrest would be issued if Ajaero fails to comply.
The letter read: “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.”
Confirming the invitation in a statement, the NLC Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs, Benson Upah, linked the invitation to the recent raid of the headquarters of the union.
Upah said a personal message sent to Ajaero by SP Moshood said: “We were at the Labour House to submit this (letter of invitation) but the place was locked, sir”.
According to him, the union finds the message curious because staff were in the office beyond 6 pm.
“We also note that Comrade Joe Ajaero was not addressed by his official title of President of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“Clearly, the last has not been heard about the raid on the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“Preceding the raid, Congress had advised the government to dialogue with the organisers of the protest even as Congress had cl early stated it was not part of the protest.
“Congress criticised the police for the high casualty rate during the protest.
“Congress in its NEC communique after the raid expressed outrage at the behaviour of the police and demanded an apology from both the police and government.
“At its world press conference last Thursday, Congress had raised an alarm that should anything happen. to the leadership of the Congress or any of its members, the police should be held accountable.
“The question on the lips of those in the know is, who wants Joe Ajaero out of circulation.”
This is coming after the NLC headquarters in Abuja was raided by security operatives.
Following the raid, the police said that the operation was 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 appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on August 12, 2024, said the raided NLC Complex had a suspect housed by the labour union in one of its floors.
However, the NLC leadership faulted the explanations given by the Nigeria Police Force on the reason its personnel ransacked the NLC national headquarters in Abuja, calling for an unreserved apology from the police.
Addressing journalists at the NLC Secretariat in Abuja last Thursday, the Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs, Benson Upah, described the police allegations of tracing a suspected international criminal to the building as laughable.
The NLC also challenged the police to come up with proof of any relationship with the alleged criminal.
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