According to sources within the agency, Ajaero was taken into custody on Monday morning for failing to respond to an invitation from the DSS.
The invitation was issued last week but went unheeded by Ajaero. It stemmed from a petition filed by senior NLC leaders against him, addressing issues that allegedly threatened national stability.
The source noted that the new Director-General of the agency, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, who assumed office less than two weeks ago, inherited this petition and insisted on investigating it. The NLC President was released last night after several hours of questioning.
The source added, “Our new DG, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, who took office recently, inherited this petition and was determined to address the allegations by inviting the NLC President for clarification.”
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Continuing, the source explained, “Our new Director General, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi inherited the matter and when he resumed duty, he insisted that we invite the NLC President to clear the air on some of the allegations.
“Last week, we invited him (Ajaero) through the normal channel, which is on the telephone. A very senior director extended the invitation and was mandated to handle the investigation.
“Ajaero promised to come today, Monday. The next thing we heard was that Ajaero was sighted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, trying to board an international flight.
“No responsible security organization will fold its hands in the face of such contempt. The law setting up the DSS empowers us to defend Nigeria against domestic threats, to uphold and enforce the criminal laws of Nigeria, and to provide leadership and criminal justice services to federal and state law-enforcement organs.
“This, we have done over the decades without fear or favour. We often praise the CIA in the United States for operating without fear or favour. See the way former President Donald Trump is being dragged around, even though he has the chance of returning as President.
“We must learn to live within the ambit of the law, including honouring invitations by security agencies. I’m sure he’ll be released after he clears the air on the allegations against him by some of his colleague-officers in the NLC.
“There is no cause for concern over the arrest by our Operatives.”
Air Peace has distanced itself from the current ordeals and arrest of Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), saying its petition against the body in 2023 has since been withdrawn. Air Peace noted that it has nothing to do with Ajaero’s arrest.
In a statement on Monday by Omotade Makinwa, Air Peace spokesperson, the airline said the police acted on the petition a year after it was withdrawn.
“Air Peace Airline expresses deep concern over recent media reports regarding the arrest of the President of the NLC in connection to a petition filed by the airline in September 2023,” the company said.
“This development, which has led to negative publicity, does not reflect the current relationship between Air Peace and the NLC.
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“It is important to clarify the events leading up to the petition. On May 3, 2023, the NLC disrupted Air Peace operations as part of a broader conflict with the Imo State government.
“Although Air Peace had no involvement in the dispute between the NLC and the Imo State government, our airline was unfortunately used as a tool to exert pressure on the government.
“This unlawful disruption of our services caused significant financial losses and impacted the travel plans of many Nigerians across multiple states.
“In response to this disruption, Air Peace’s legal team submitted a formal petition against the NLC to the Nigerian Police. Despite our repeated efforts to follow up on the petition, the Police failed to take prompt action.”
Meanwhile,Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has reacted to the arrest of the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero.
The human right activist on Monday said secret service that arrested Ajaero has not given any reason for his arrest, noting that Ajaero’s arrest had no connection to police invitation.
“The invitation to Comrade Joe Ajaero by the police was rescheduled last week. I have contacted the police authorities. The arrest is not related to the police invitation.
“Comrade Ajaero was on his way to London to attend the ongoing TUC conference when he was arrested at the airport this morning by the SSS. No reason has been provided for the arrest by the SSS.”
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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has expressed outrage at the arrest of its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero by the men of the Department of State Service (DSS) and demanded his immediate release, warning of a total shutdown of the country by workers.
According to a statement by NLC Head of Information and Public Relation, Comrade Benson Upah, Ajaero was apprehended this earlier on Monday morning by agents of the Nigerian state while en route to the United Kingdom to attend a global workers’ conference organized by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain.
In all,the Department of State Services (DSS) has granted administrative bail to Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The Matrix learnt of his release via reports by one of the NLC leaders and activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, who announced his release in a tweet on Monday night.
