…Ajaero would be prepared for your interview August 29 – Falana
OSAS EMMANUEL
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, is arrested by the Police.
This was made known yesterday by the NLC Deputy President, Comrade Kabiru Sani, while addressing journalists at its headquarters shortly after an emergency virtual National Executive Council (NEC), meeting held to discuss the developments surrounding the recent invitation of its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, by the Nigeria Police Force.
“The Congress will not hesitate to take all necessary actions, including mass protests and industrial actions, to protect the integrity and independence of the labour movement. If anything happens to the President of the Congress or any other leader of the Congress in furtherance of these tendentious allegations by the State; NEC puts all its affiliates and state councils to proceed on indefinite nationwide strike action by 12:00 Midnight today.”
The Police invitation is in connection with an investigation involving allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony.
Furthermore, the Police has also warned that it would not hesitate to issue a warrant of arrest against Ajaero if he failed to comply.
While noting that the invitation is premised on a clearly unfounded and politically motivated investigation into alleged terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony, NEC resolved that as a law abiding trade centre, the NLC President would honour the police invitation.
However, the NEC emphasized that this decision does not in any way legitimize the accusations made against Comrade Ajaero.
Furthermore, the Congress also demanded an extension of time for NLC President to adequately prepare and attend to the police invitation, reiterating their commitment to the rule of law and due process.
“As a responsible labour centre committed to the rule of law and due process, the NLC shall honour the invitation extended to its President by the Nigeria Police but will demand for extension of time given the nature of the invitation. However, we wish to state unequivocally that this does not in any way legitimize the baseless allegations levelled against him.”
The NEC, who described the police invitation as a clear act of intimidation, harassment, and witch-hunting against the leadership of the NLC, noted with dismay that rather than addressing the Congress’s demands for accountability regarding the earlier invasion of its national headquarters by security agencies, the police have instead opted for what the NEC labeled a “spurious and fortuitous journey” aimed at silencing the voices of Nigerian workers and their leaders.
“This is nothing but a travesty and a blatant attempt to stifle the voice of the working people and their leadership, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98.”
The NEC further warned the state to desist from its evil intentions and stop the ongoing witch-hunt against the leaders of the Congress forthwith.
Also, NEC strongly condemned the actions of the state, calling the continued harassment of its leadership a calculated attempt to weaken and destabilize the labour movement in Nigeria.
This is as it strongly warned that the Congress would not sit idly by while the rights and freedoms of its members and leaders are trampled upon with impunity by the State.
Meanwhile, the NEC also directed all affiliates and state councils to immediately commence the process of mobilizing their members across the nation, should the police go ahead and arrest Comrade Ajaero.
The NEC also called on all civil society allies and the general populace to stand in solidarity with the Nigeria Labour Congress in this critical moment, noting that the fight against injustice and oppression is a collective one, and “we urge all Nigerians to rise in defense of our shared democratic values.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress remains resolute in its commitment to defending the rights and interests of workers and the Nigerian people. We shall not be cowed or intimidated by these desperate attempts to silence us. We stand firm in our resolve to uphold justice, fairness, and the rule of law in our beloved country.”
In a related development, Falana and Falana Chambers have said that the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, would be prepared for the interview with Nigeria Police on Wednesday, August 29.
This was contained in a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police and delivered at the Louis Edet House yesterday, in Abuja.
The letter explained that the NLC President was unable to honour the Police invitation yesterday due to an earlier engagement that had been fixed before the receipt of the invitation letter.
“We are Solicitors to the Nigeria Labour Congress and its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, on whose behalf we write this letter in respect of the above subject matter.
“We have the instructions of Comrade Joe Ajaero to inform you that he is unable to honour your invitation on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 in view of the fact that your invitation letter was received by him yesterday. He has an engagement that had been fixed before the receipt of the invitation letter.
“Therefore, Comrade Ajaero is prepared for your interview on Wednesday, August 29, 2024. Furthermore, in accordance with the provisions of section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as altered, Comrade Ajaero requests for the details and nature of the allegations of Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion and Cybercrime levelled against him.
“While awaiting your positive response to this letter, please accept the assurances of our highest esteem.” The letter reads
Reacting to the developments, a human rights lawyer, Barrister Deji Adeyanju, has said that while the Police has the power to invite anybody in relation to ongoing investigations, “it is, however, imperative to sound a note of caution, as it appears from the invitation letter, that the Nigerian Police Force has already reached a premeditated decision on Joe Ajero’s guilt.
He further called on the Inspector General of Police to call his officers to order and refrain from heating the polity.
This is as stressed that “we will not sit idle and watch Nigeria descend into fascism, the outcome of which no one can predict.”
