Human Rights activist Femi Falana, SAN, Maxwell Opara, Deji Adeyanju were among the lawyers that accompanied the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, President, Comrade Joe Ajaero to Force headquarters for questioning over allegation of terrorism financing among others.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero has returned from the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) located at Guzape in Abuja after honouring the police invitation over alleged terrorism financing and criminal conspiracy.

Ajaero was accompanied back to the Labour House at about 11:30am by the Deputy Lead Counsel, Maxwell Opara from the Falana & Falana’s Chambers and other some other lawyers.

He said he was not deterred or discouraged, adding that he would continue the struggle for the implementation of the new minimum wage that was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.

He said, “We have gone there and we are back and you can’t do this job we are doing without this type of hazard. It’s expected. For those of you who called me, I told them this is the hazard of the job. Even at the unit level, some of us experience this.

 

“As far back as 1998, I was telling Falana we were together in the cell enjoying ourselves in the time of Abacha.

 

“What is important is the circumstances that took me to that place and whatever it is we are out to continue the struggle. We have gotten minimum wage which has not been implemented so we have to press for its implementation as soon as possible.

 

“Every other thing that will make the welfare of Nigeria workers worthwhile, we will be involved in it.

 

“We will not listen to any distraction. On behalf of the NLC, NAC, NEC and CWC for the level of the solidarity they have shown here, I want to say thank you.”

 

Human rights lawyer, Comrade Deji Adeyanju in a post on his X handle after the police visit, said, “We are back from the police. The interview was very short. We also told them to release all protesters in their custody or charge them to court.”

Although, the Labour movement had mobilised its members to accompany Ajaero to the Police headquarters in solidarity, Chief Falana, who is the NLC’s lawyer had told the workers to stay behind at the Labour house to avoid a rowdy session at the Police.

He assured that the situation will be handled well with the lawyers from his Chambers among others in the entourage.

While workers from different unions are at the Labour House waiting, there was detachment of Police Officers within the vicinity.

Recall Newsmen had earlier reported on last week, the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Abuja invited Ajaero over allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony.

A letter from the IRT, signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Adamu Muazu, directed Mr Ajaero to appear for an interview at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the IRT complex located at Guzape Junction in Abuja.

However, the NLC’s legal team replied to the police on Tuesday, saying Mr Ajaero could not honour the invitation as scheduled “in view of the fact that your invitation letter was received by him yesterday (Monday).”“He has an engagement that had been fixed before the receipt of the invitation letter,” read the letter signed by Samuel Ogala, a lawyer from the law firm of Femi Falana, a prominent lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The letter sought a nine-day postponement of Mr Ajaero’s appearance for the interview.“Therefore, Comrade Ajaero is prepared for your interview on Thursday, 29 August 2024,” the letter said.