The Department of State Services (DSS) has released labour leader Joe Ajaero, as confirmed by the man himself to Channels Television.
Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), stated that he was allowed to leave around 11 pm on Monday after being held for nearly 15 hours. He was arrested earlier in the day at approximately 7 am at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
He said that his passport was seized by the DSS. He also mentioned that, in addition to the DSS interrogation, police officers questioned him at the DSS office in Abuja regarding the #EndBadGovernance protests that occurred nationwide in August.
Ajaero further disclosed that he was interrogated about alleged terrorism financing linked to a British national, Andrew Wynne.
The labour leader was en route to the United Kingdom for a Trade Union Congress (TUC) event when he was arrested.
The NLC condemned Ajaero’s detention and issued a deadline, demanding his release by Tuesday midnight. The union had also placed its affiliates, state councils, civil society allies, and all patriotic Nigerians on high alert in response to the “troubling development.”
Various groups, including the TUC, Amnesty International, and human rights lawyer Femi Falana, criticized the Federal Government for its actions and called for Ajaero’s immediate and unconditional release.
This is not the first time Ajaero has faced such challenges. In late August, he honored a police invitation over terrorism financing allegations, maintaining his innocence. He was also arrested in Imo State last November while preparing to lead a protest over unpaid workers’ salaries and other issues.