Terrorism Financing: “Ajero Should Respect Himself By Turning Up Police
Ajero Will Turn Up On Wednesday, August 29, 2024.
“We Will Cripple Economy If…. NLC Threatens Presidency
Targeting Of NLC And Its Leaders Aimed At Crippling The Union — Amnesty International
In an emergency meeting call by all affiliate Union of the Nigeria Labour Congress and attended in Abuja yesterday. In a press statement made available to Press, the NLC threaten the Presidency to cripple the economy with strike if anything happens to Labour Union leader.
Deputy President of Congress, Comrade Minjibir Ado addresses the press after the emergency NEC meeting held yesterday
The NLC president, through his counsel, also demanded details of the allegations levelled against him.
“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,” the letter reads.
“He has an engagement that had been fixed before the receipt of the invitation letter.
Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has declined the invitation by the police for questioning over alleged criminal conspiracy and treasonable felony.
On Monday, the police invited Ajaero over “a case of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime”.
In a letter signed by Samuel Ogala, principal partner at the Falana & Falana’s Chambers, Ajaero’s counsel said the NLC president is unable to honour the invitation on Tuesday because of other engagements.
The counsel said the Ajaero would be available for questioning on Wednesday, August 29, 2024.
Global humanitarian organisation, Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the current onslaught against the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
A statement signed by the organisation’s Director, Isa Sanusi on Tuesday, described fresh allegations of terrorism financing by the Nigerian authorities against Ajaero and its leaders as an attempt to intimidate the unionists.
The international group’s reaction comes following NLC’s threat to embark on a nationwide strike should the police detain Ajaero.
Sanusi said, “Amnesty International is deeply concerned by the Nigerian authorities’ fresh attempts to further intimidate and harass Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) through threats of arrest of its President Joe Ajaero. We urge the authorities to end this pattern of brazen impunity and respect the right of the labour unions to agree or disagree with government and its policies.
“Under international human rights law and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right, freedom of association is guaranteed, and workers cannot be targeted for participating in trade union activities. The Nigerian authorities have an obligation not only to respect the rights of workers but also to protect these rights from abuse.
“In the last one year, Amnesty International had observed increasing attempts by the Nigerian government to silence the umbrella labour union, through trying by hook and crook to use state institutions to discredit them. This is a new low in this government’s human rights records.
“In Nov. last year, the President of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Mr. Joe Ajaero was beaten and blindfolded by the police in connivance with thugs sponsored by Imo state government in Owerri. No one was held to account for the assault. Recently, Nigeria Police raided the headquarters of NLC and carted away documents and books. After the raid, the union labour leaders had to go into hiding for safety reasons. In February, the leadership of NLC cried out over threats and intimidation they faced over a legitimate strike action.
“The Nigerian government is clearly and unlawfully interfering with the functioning of an independent workers union, by targeting its leaders with baseless accusations that are gradually crippling the activities of the union. The organization urges the Nigerian authorities to immediately end this bizarre crackdown on leaders of the nation’s labour union. The allegations against NLC and its leadership are just punitive measures aimed solely at deterring and punishing them for standing up for workers’ rights.”
On Monday, the NPF invited Ajaero for investigation over allegations of terrorism financing, treasonable felony, cybercrime and other related offences.
