Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero and Secretary General Emmanuel Ugboaja were recently re-invited by the Nigeria Police Force following an earlier invitation.
The re-invitation, dated August 28, 2024, was signed by CP Rufus Alajide on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department. According to police sources, this invitation is part of an ongoing investigation involving accusations of “criminal intimidation, malicious damage to properties, and actions likely to incite public unrest.”
In the letter, PulseNets reported that the police stated, “In furtherance of investigations into the alleged case of Criminal Intimidation, Conduct Likely to Cause Breach of Public Peace and Malicious Damage to Properties in which your name featured.”
Ajaero and Ugboaja were asked to attend an interview with the Deputy Inspector General of Police at the Force Intelligence Department (FID) Complex in Abuja on Thursday, September 5, 2024, at 11 a.m. PulseNets learned that they were instructed to call Mr. Usman on arrival for further instructions.
This re-invitation marks a shift from the initial allegations of “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime” earlier leveled against the NLC leaders.
Sources who spoke to PulseNets revealed that the renewed inquiry stems from a petition filed by a private company unrelated to terrorism charges. The complaint involves allegations of criminal intimidation, disturbances to public peace, and property damage linked to a workers’ picket organized by the NLC.
Femi Falana (SAN), counsel to the NLC, confirmed the situation, telling PulseNets that the charges against Ajaero are limited to the specific allegations regarding the picketing incident.
Also Read: Hunger Protest: Police re-invite NLC President Ajaero for interrogation
He stated, “A few months ago, a private company lodged a complaint against the leadership of the NLC in respect of the picketing of its premises by workers. The complaints against Comrade Joe Ajaero are limited to criminal intimidation, conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace and malicious damage to properties.”
