How I Defends Labour Movement’s Worth, Amidst Controversial Police Interrogation
Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), expressed his awareness of the challenges faced by labour leaders in Nigeria after a recent visit to the Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT) office.
On Thursday, Ajaero arrived at the IRT office around 10:15 a.m. and left shortly after 11 a.m. He had been invited by the police for questioning regarding allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.
Accompanied by his lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, senior lawyer Maxwell Okpara, and human rights activists including Deji Adeyanju and Marshal Abubakar, Ajaero provided a statement detailing his knowledge of the case.
In a briefing to the press, Ajaero framed his recent interrogation as part of the broader struggle for workers’ rights. He asserted, “The labour movement is worth fighting for, driven by our patriotism and dedication. We are among the most committed organizations in Nigeria, having shown steadfastness from the colonial era through military rule.”
He continued, “We have endured similar challenges in the past, such as in 1998, and understand that such hazards are part of the job. Despite these difficulties, we remain focused on our goals, including advocating for the implementation of the minimum wage and enhancing workers’ welfare.”
Maxwell Okpara, speaking on behalf of lead counsel Femi Falana, noted that the allegations of terrorism financing and treason may have been mistakenly included in the summons.
