DSS, Police Investigators Asked Me About Labour Party, #EndBadGovernance Protests, Other Issues Just To Find Evidence Against Me – NLC President Ajaero
This followed an extended period of detention, in which Ajaero’s detention sparked widespread concerns and intense speculation regarding the circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, has spoken out about his harrowing experience in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies following his arrest on Monday.
SaharaReporters had on Monday evening reported that the DSS had granted administrative bail to Ajaero.
This followed an extended period of detention, in which Ajaero’s detention sparked widespread concerns and intense speculation regarding the circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention.
SaharaReporters had also reported that Ajaero’s phones and international passport, which were seized during his 16-hour detention at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, had been returned to him.
Speaking, Ajaero stated that the security agencies asked him about the Labour Party and whether the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) runs the party, of which he reported no.
Describing his ordeal, Ajaero stated that it seemed like the DSS arrested him on behalf of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Police, as IRT operatives interrogated him and took his statement while he was in detention.
Ajaero expressed his confusion and distress over the public embarrassment he suffered, saying, “I do not know why they have to embarrass me publicly like that.”
Giving details of the questions he was asked, he said: “The same IRT operatives in whose office we were on August 29, 2024, alongside Mr Femi Falana, came and asked the same questions I was asked in the previous meeting with them.
“They asked about the operator of Iva Valley Bookshop on the second floor of NLC secretariat building.
“They asked me whether we had communicated on phone, whether he (the Iva Valley operator) communicated with me in writing and so on.”
He added, “They also asked if I know the protesters (#EndBadGovernance or #Endhunger), especially Eleojo Opaluwa, a staff of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE. I told them I knew him because I employed him at NUEE.
“They equally asked about the Labour Party, LP, whether we are running the party. I told them we do not run Labour Party, but that we are a trustee of the party.
“I also told them that the Labour Party they see today was founded when Adams Oshiomhole was President of NLC.
“Also, they asked about the issue of Air Peace which we had settled since last year.
“It is like the security agents are searching for evidence on how and what to nail us with. That is why they have continued to embarrass, persecute, intimidate and do whatever they liked to cow us.”
