The Federal Government has dismissed allegations of rights abuses made by the UK Trade Union Congress (TUC) regarding the arrest of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). The government insists that no individual, including Ajaero, is above the law in Nigeria.
Ajaero was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while en route to a TUC conference in London. The Federal Government, through a statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, clarified that Ajaero was arrested because he ignored a summons from the DSS related to an ongoing investigation.
Onanuga emphasized that under the 1999 Constitution (as amended), everyone is subject to the authority of law enforcement agencies and lawful investigations. He criticized the UK TUC’s accusations, describing them as “wrongly and falsely” made.
In response to his arrest, Ajaero revealed that his international passport and mobile phones, which had been seized by the DSS, were returned to him. He provided insights into his experience with the DSS and other security agencies.
The DSS also addressed concerns about its recent presence at the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), clarifying that their visit was for investigative purposes and not an invasion.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticized the Federal Government over Ajaero’s arrest and the DSS’s actions at SERAP’s office.