Operatives of the Department of State Service have arrested the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Ajaero was about to board a flight to the United Kingdom for an official assignment when he was picked up by the DSS. Although details of the arrest and the reasons are still sketchy, sources said he has been handed over to the National Intelligence Agency.
According to sources, Ajaero was billed to attend the conference of the Trade Union Congress in the UK, which is holding today.
This is not the first time Ajaero has been summoned by security agents. On August 19, the Police summoned him to appear the next day, threatening to arrest him if he failed to comply. However, Ajaero, through his lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), wrote to the Inspector General of Police explaining why he could not honour the summon on the said date.
He informed the IGP that he would come on August 29 to respond to allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime. True to his promise, Ajaero honoured the Police summons on August 29, accompanied by his lawyers and Labour leaders.
Less than 24 hours later, the Police summoned Ajaero and the NLC General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, to appear at Force Headquarters on September 5.
No official statement has been released by the DSS or NIA regarding the arrest and reasons behind it.
