The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has asked the Nigeria Police to release details of the allegations against the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero.
The police had on Monday in a letter issued from the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police Intelligence Response Team, Department of Force Intelligence and signed by Adamu S. Muazu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, summoned Ajaero for questioning over allegations of terrorism financing, treasonable felony, cybercrime and other related offences.
The Police also threatened that failure to honour the invitation would lead to Ajaero’s arrest.
But Ajaero, in a letter written to the Police by his lawyer, Falana Chambers, expressed readiness to answer all questions the Police wanted to pose to him during the interview on the allegations.
Though Ajaero was not available on Tuesday for the interview, his lawyers said he would honour the invitation next Wednesday, August 29, 2024, saying he had already scheduled other engagements for the initial date.
Obi, speaking on the development on Thursday on his X handle, said that the anxiety generated by the Police invitation was expected given the critical position Ajaero holds as the leader of the nation’s workforce.
According to him, the NLC is an interlocutor of the Federal Government on various labour disputes and other national interest issues.
On that basis alone, without prejudice to due process, Ajaero represents an umbrella organisation that should inform the authorities of their approach and modalities.
According to Obi: “The alleged infractions listed on the letter of invitation circulating on Social Media are weighty and there is no clarity on the circumstances and if the authorities are attributing these to personal conduct or responsibilities devolving on Mr Ajaejo as the undisputed leader of the NLC.
“Extreme caution must thus be exercised in the manner in which this issue is handled. It is not unexpected that government will boot try autocratic methods to vow labour as a potential opposition force.”
He said that invitations like the one to Ajaero are expected, but the rule of law and the laws of evidence should be observed.
He also urged the labour unions to stick to their strengths and powers in order to maintain democratic order and sanity in the country.
The letter conveying the invitation to the NLC President written to him by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence response Team (IRT), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Adamu S. Muazu, and read: “This office is investigating a case of Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion and Cybercrime in which you were mentioned.
“You are therefore invited to interview the undersigned on Tuesday 20th August, 2024 by 10.00Hrs, at Old Abattoir by Guzape Junction, Abuja through the Team leader… in connection with the above investigation.
“Be informed that in the event of failing to honour this letter, this office will have no alternative than to activate a warrant of arrest against you please.”
