DSS Finally Releases NLC President Joe Ajaero’s Seized Passport, Mobile Phones
The Department of State Services (DSS) has returned the passport and mobile phones seized from Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), PulseNets learned.
It will be recalled that Ajaero was arrested and detained on Monday, which led to widespread calls for his immediate release. He was eventually set free later that evening.
Sources close to Ajaero told PulseNets that the DSS initially resisted returning his passport and phones. “They refused to release his passport and initially his phones but returned his phone last night after he refused to leave the DSS headquarters without his phones,” the source revealed.
PulseNets learnt that on Tuesday morning, Ajaero’s passport was finally released through his lawyer, Marshal Abubakar of Femi & Falana’s Chambers. “This morning (Tuesday), they finally released his passport to him through his lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, from the Femi & Falana’s Chambers. They held back his passport because they did not want him to travel,” the source added.
Ajaero was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while on his way to London for a Trade Union Congress conference. His detention sparked outrage from labour unions, human rights groups, and concerned Nigerians.
Also Read: Joe Ajaero, President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Arrested by DSS at Abuja Airport
Meanwhile, PulseNets learned that the NLC had scheduled a meeting for Tuesday to discuss Ajaero’s arrest but decided to postpone it pending his return. A union leader spoke to PulseNets, saying, “NLC has suspended a meeting meant to address his detention scheduled for 9 am. They are waiting for Joe Ajaero (himself) to call for a meeting to decide the next steps the congress will take regarding the harassment and intimidation of their leader.”
