The Department of State Services has disclosed that Nigeria Labour Congress President,Joe Ajaero, was arrested for failing to honour an invitation related to a petition filed by top NLC leaders. The petition allegedly threatened national stability.
According to a DSS source, the new Director-General, Oluwatosin Ajayi, inherited the petition and insisted on investigating, according to Politics Nigeria.
Ajaero was invited last week but instead attempted to board an international flight, leading to his arrest.
The DSS justified the arrest, citing its mandate to defend Nigeria against domestic threats and uphold criminal laws.
The agency aims to clear the air on allegations against Ajaero and may release him afterward.
This development highlights the DSS’s commitment to investigating potential security threats and holding individuals accountable for honouring official invitations.
The source explained, “You know that our new DG (Director-General), Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi resumed duty less than two weeks ago. This was one of the petitions he inherited. 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,” the officer added.
