Falana Speaks On NLC President, Ajaero’s Arrest By DSS

Senior lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana, said the arrest of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, was not connected to the earlier invitation by the police.

This newspaper had reported that the NLC Chairman was arrested by the DSS on Monday morning while on his way to the United Kingdom (UK) for a conference, where he was to address the global gathering of workers on behalf of Nigerian workers.

While the reasons for his arrest are unknown at the moment, there are suggestions that it is related to the police invitation given to him on August 30, along with his secretary, Emma Ugboaja, to appear at the Force Headquarters on September 5 over allegations of criminal intimidation, conducts likely to cause a breach of public peace and malicious damage to property.

Speaking to Punch on Monday, Falana who is the legal counsel to Ajero, “The invitation to Comrade Joe Ajaero by the police was rescheduled last week.

“I have contacted the police authorities. The arrest is not related to the police invitation.

“Comrade Ajaero was on his way to London to attend the ongoing TUC Conference when he was arrested at the airport this morning by the SSS. No reason has been provided for the arrest by the SSS.”

Meanwhile, the NLC has commenced a closed-door meeting following the arrest of its president.

The NLC spokesperson, Benson Upah, made this known in a statement on Monday, adding that the outcome of the meeting will be made known to the general public immediately after the meeting.