Police invite Joe Ajaero for questioning over alleged terrorism financing

NLC president Joe Ajaero

The police have invited the president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero for questioning over his alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime.

A letter to this effect dated August 19 was sent to Mr Ajaero.

It read, “This office is investigating a case of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing and treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime in which you were mentioned.

“You are hereby invited to interview by the undersigned on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 by 10 am prompt at the IRT Complex by Old Abattoir by Guzape Junction in Abuja.

“Be informed that in the event of failing to honour this letter, the office will have no alternative than to activate a warrant of arrest against you please.”

This comes after the police raided the NLC national secretariat in Abuja.

Explaining the basis of their action, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun said in a statement that a prime criminal suspect in an ongoing investigation was traced to the building.

The statement said, “The Nigeria Police Force has noted a publication alleging that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) National Secretariat, known as the Labour House, located in the Central Business District, Abuja, was raided by the Police.

“On August 7, 2024, a press release issued by the NLC’s Head of Media and Public Relations alleged that officers of the Nigeria Police Force, along with some individuals in black T-shirts and others in plain clothes, raided the Labour House.

“The Nigeria Police Force wishes to clarify that a prime criminal suspect in an ongoing investigation was traced to a shop within the building in the Central Business District, Abuja. Detectives, armed with the appropriate legal authority, conducted an operation at the location, which turned out to be the NLC building.”

The police said the operation was solely aimed at apprehending the prime suspect – a foreign national — allegedly implicated in numerous criminal activities across Nigeria and other African countries.

Egbetokun said the operation had no connection with the NLC, its secretariat, staff, or leadership, noting that the NLC secretariat was not the focus of the operation, but a rented shop within the building used by the suspect as a front for his alleged criminal activities in Nigeria.