The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has refuted reports that its President, Joe Ajaero, was arrested and detained by the secret police, Department of State Services (DSS), after he refused to honour an invitation by the service.

Ajaero was arrested by the DSS at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, while en route to London for a Trade Union Conference.

His subsequent detention sparked widespread concerns and intense speculation regarding the circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention.

Earlier on Wednesday, SaharaReporters reported that President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government denied allegations of human rights abuses levelled against it by the United Kingdom Trade Union Congress (TUC) following the arrest of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero.

In a statement by presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, the government said no individual, including the NLC president, is above the law in Nigeria.

Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said that Ajaero’s arrest stemmed from his refusal to honour an invitation from a law enforcement agency.

He said, “The Trade Union Congress in the United Kingdom opened its conference today in London, with its leader making false claims about human rights abuses and violations in Nigeria.

“The Nigerian government was wrongly and falsely accused of rights abuse because the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, was stopped from travelling abroad after he snubbed the invitation of a law enforcement agency conducting an ongoing investigation.”

But in a statement issued by the NLC Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, the labour congress denied the allegations.

It said, “We would like to set the records straight as follows: In the days preceding his arrest, Congress President had had a discussion with the DG DSS on a courtesy visit.

“A Director in the agency later called the General Secretary of the Congress on the need to fix a date for the courtesy visit. The General Secretary, however, explained to him that he would not be available until Friday (September 13). The said Director assured him they would give Congress leadership a notice of not less than 48 hours for the visit.”

Upah said, “The Congress President however missed his flight on Sunday and had it rescheduled to Monday, September 9th.

“It was on that Monday morning he was picked up by the operatives of the DSS in a watch list operation on behalf of a sister agency.

“We want to re-affirm that Joe Ajaero is a law-abiding citizen heading the biggest pan-Nigerian organisation with an illustrious history of patriotism and will certainly not snub the DSS.

“He is a trade unionist of international repute who serves on the executive boards of world federations of trade unions. His constituency goes beyond Nigeria.

“It is not in his character to disregard invitations and precedents (his honouring the police invitation) attest to this.”