FG responds to UK TUC accusation over Ajaero’s arrest, insists no one is above the law

The Federal Government has dismissed accusations of rights abuse made by the United Kingdom’s Trade Union Congress (TUC) concerning the recent arrest of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president, Joe Ajaero.

The government emphasized that no individual, including Ajaero, is above the law in Nigeria.

Ajaero was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while en route to a conference organized by the UK TUC.

“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.

“Clearly, under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), no person is above the summons of law enforcement agencies and lawful investigation.

Government’s position came on a day Ajaero gave insight into his ordeal in the hands of operatives of DSS and other security agencies, following his Monday arrest.

He also confirmed to Vanguard yesterday that the DSS has released his seized international passport and mobile phones.

This is even as the secret police said yesterday that its presence at the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, did not amount to invasion, adding that its operatives were there for investigation.

However, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar lampooned the Federal Government over Ajaero’s arrest and takeover of the Abuja office of SERAP.

At press time yesterday, it was gathered that the secret police had pulled its operatives out of SERAP office to which they laid siege on Monday.

‘FG wrongly accused of rights abuses’
Onanuga said, “We are not aware that there is anyone in the United Kingdom or anywhere in Europe and the United States, trade union leaders inclusive, who will flagrantly ignore the invitation or summons of MI5 or Scotland Yard or treat the FBI with the level of disdain Mr Ajaero has subjected law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.

“In the United States, for example, former President Donald Trump has been the subject of numerous investigations and prosecutions in courts in several states since he left office.
“Mr. Hunter Biden, son of the President of the United States, has been the subject of a lawful investigation by the FBI.

“We, therefore, reject any notion and allusion to human rights violations in Nigeria. The accusations made by the Trade Union Congress in the United Kingdom are, thus, unfounded and based on a misunderstanding of the situation.

“Besides, the Nigerian Government is being led by a pro-democracy activist president who will do everything to protect civil liberties and the rights of all citizens.

“There is no adversarial relationship between the Labour Movement in Nigeria and the government.

“While labour unions and the government may not always agree on policy direction, the government has consistently shown readiness to engage on any issue with labour despite the latter’s political partisanship.

“Contrary to the erroneous impression being created, the invitation extended by the Department of State Services to Mr. Ajaero has nothing to do with his role as the President of NLC.

“As a responsible citizen of Nigeria, Mr Ajaero should honour any invitation from our security agencies and resolve any issues that may arise during the investigation instead of stirring adverse public opinion against the security agencies.

“It is worth reminding Nigerians and the global community that the federal government recognises that the labour movement exists to protect and defend the interests of its members. What is also worth noting is that Labour, in most cases, only advances ideological positions that fly in the face of economic realities.

“Many ideological stances of the labour unions in Nigeria in the past have only stunted the economic growth and development of the country and even compromised the material well-being of the workers and the poor people they protect.

“A case in point was the strong opposition of the NLC and TUC to the sale of Port-Harcourt and Kaduna Refineries to Bluestar Consortium, promoted in 2007 by Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola, during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“Seventeen years after the labour movement forced the successor government of Umar Yar’ Adua to cancel the sale of the two refineries, none of the four government-owned refineries worked.

“In the obverse, Mr. Aliko Dangote, one of the promoters of Bluestar, has built the largest single-train refinery in the world. In a twist of fate, the same Labour Movement that fiercely opposed Dangote from taking over the two refineries in 2007 hailed him on completing his 650,000-bpd refinery in Lagos.

“The administration of President Tinubu will continue to promote the best economic interest of Nigerians despite the current challenges. It will also continue to pursue policies and programmes that will expand national economic output and create prosperity for our citizens.”

Ajaero: Labour primed for strike
Similarly, President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, yesterday gave insight into his ordeal in the hands of operatives of the Department of the State Services, DSS and other security agencies, following his arrest on Monday.

Recall that the DSS had seized the NLC President’s phones and international passport after his arrest and detention for no less than 16 hours at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Confirming the release of the items yesterday, Ajaero said simply: “Yes, it is true. my phones and international passport have been returned to me by the DSS.”

The DSS, it was gathered, succumbed to pressure from local and international community which forced the government to release the NLC president, ahead of the 12 midnight deadline given government to free the detained labour leader.

Ajaero was arrested and detained by the DSS at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while en-route to the United Kingdom, where he was scheduled to attend and address the Congress of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, of Britain.

He was to represent Nigerian workers in critical discussions on workers’ rights and social justice.

According to sources within the NLC, “all modalities for a nationwide strike had been concluded and it was only left for the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting earlier scheduled for Tuesday (10-09-2024) at 9 am to endorse and declare the strike yesterday.

“All critical sector unions were already mobilized and were ready to begin a total strike yesterday until the NLC President was released unconditionally.

‘’Many groups, including the civil society organizations, CSOs, were already threatening fire and brim stone if Ajaero was not released.”

It was equally gathered the trade unions across the globe were already pushing their home governments to take action against Nigeria over alleged human rights abuses, and persecution of union leaders, among others.

Among the unions are Public Service International, PSI; International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC; and IndustriALL Global Union, IGU.

My ordeal at DSS, by Ajaero
Speaking exclusively, to Vanguard on his ordeal in the hands of the DSS and other security operatives yesterday, Ajaero said: “It was like the DSS arrested me on behalf of the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, department of the Police because IRT operatives came to interrogate me and take my statement, while I was detained.

‘’The DSS also interrogated me and took my statement. I do not know why they have to embarrass me publicly like that. The same IRT operatives in whose office we were on August 29, 2024, alongside Mr Femi Falana, came and asked the same questions I was asked in the previous meeting with them.

“They asked about the operator of Iva Valley Bookshop on the second floor of NLC secretariat building. They asked me whether we had communicated on phone, whether he (the Iva Valley operator) communicated with me in writing and so on.

‘’They also asked if I know the protesters (#EndBadGovernance or #Endhunger), especially Eleojo Opaluwa, a staff of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE. I told them I knew him because I employed him at NUEE.

“They equally asked about the Labour Party, LP, whether we are running the party. I told them we do not run Labour Party, but that we are a trustee of the party. I also told them that the Labour Party they see today was founded when Adams Oshiomhole was President of NLC. Also, they asked about the issue of Air Peace which we had settled since last year.

“It is like the security agents are searching for evidence on how and what to nail us with. That is why they have continued to embarrass, persecute, intimidate and do whatever they liked to cow us.’’

Medical checks on Ajaero
Meanwhile, the NLC has said it planned to conduct a comprehensive medical check on Ajaero to ensure his health had not been compromised as a result of the illegal and unjust treatment meted out on him by security operatives

NLC in a statement by the Deputy President, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, said: “This overwhelming display of unity in defense of justice and workers’ rights reinforces the strength of collective action and underscores the unbreakable bond between the Nigerian people and the labour movement.

“We are pleased to inform the public that Comrade Joe Ajaero was released late last night (Monday) at approximately 11:00pm, following intense pressure mounted by the NLC and in compliance with the demands issued by the National Administrative Council, NAC, of the NLC.
“NAC had given the government a firm ultimatum, with a deadline of 12 midnight, to release Ajaero, whose detention was a clear violation of our rights and an affront on the principles of democracy.

“While we celebrate his release, NLC remains vigilant. We will conduct a comprehensive medical check on Comrade Ajaero to ensure his health has not been compromised as a result of the illegal and unjust treatment meted out on him. The well-being of our President is paramount, and we will not rest until we are assured that his health is intact.

“The arrest and detention of Ajaero at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, while he was en-route to represent Nigerian workers at the Trade Union Congress, TUC, of Britain, is a stark reminder of the length to which the Nigerian state will go to silence the voice of labour and crush dissent.

“NLC unequivocally condemns this reckless abuse of power and reaffirms our commitment to standing firm against all forms of oppression, intimidation and lawlessness.

‘Release all detained #EndBadGovernance protesters’
‘’We once again, demand the release of all citizens languishing in jails across the country for their participation in the #EndBadGovernance protest around the country; stoppage of the massive clampdown on popular voices that espouse dissenting opinions; cessation of the muzzling of fundamental freedoms currently going on in the country; reversal of the hikes in the price of petrol (PMS) and electricity tariffs and, the immediate implementation of the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act.

“The NLC will not waver in its duty to defend the rights of workers, and we remain prepared to take all necessary actions to protect these rights and restore justice.

‘’The National Executive Council, NEC, of the NLC which was proposed for today (yesterday) has, therefore, been suspended to assess the situation and determine the next steps in our collective struggle.

“We call on all Nigerians, our affiliates, and the international community to remain steadfast and vigilant as we continue this struggle.

“NLC is committed to ensuring that justice prevails and that the rights of workers and citizens are respected. Together, we will overcome these challenges and secure a better future for all.”

Ajaero, SERAP: Oppression from Tinubu’s regime surpasses military dictatorships — Atiku
Reacting to the arrest of the NLC president and take over of SERAP’s office by DSS, former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku, in a statement posted on his verified X account, tasked President Bola Tinubu to focus security efforts on terrorists and bandits and not civil society.

He said: “The level of oppressive control now imposed surpasses even the harshest days of military dictatorship.

“The escalating assault on civil society and the media by the Bola Tinubu administration are profoundly disturbing. The level of oppressive control now imposed surpasses even the harshest days of military dictatorship.

“The recent arrest of Mr. Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, en route to an official event, epitomizes this regime’s relentless campaign to intimidate and subdue organized labour.

“Just days prior, security forces detained a journalist, only to later claim it was a grievous error. What if the outcome had been fatal?

“Now, Tinubu’s regime extends its repressive grasp to encroach upon SERAP, an action that stands as a grave affront on our democratic values. This siege is anathema to the principles of freedom and justice.”

DSS to SERAP: We didn’t raid, we came for investigation
Also yesterday, the Department of State Services, DSS, denied allegations of unlawfully invading the offices of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, in Abuja.

The agency clarified that only two unarmed operatives were sent to SERAP’s Abuja office for a routine investigation which, according to it, contradicted initial reports of a raid.

DSS in a statement, explained that the visit was part of its standard official inquiries and liaison, emphasizing that it did not constitute illegality or harassment.

The statement read: “The narrative of unlawful invasion is inaccurate and misleading. A team of two unarmed Service operatives was lawfully detailed on a routine investigation to the SERAP office in Abuja.

“This visit has unfortunately been skewed and misinterpreted as unlawful harassment and intimidation of SERAP officials. However, such official inquiries and liaison are traditional and do not in any way amount to illegality or a raid.

“While we assure an in-depth investigation of these malicious contents, we call for citizens’ participation in national security management. We urge the public to disregard these false narratives.”

The DSS assured the public of its commitment to professionalism in discharging its core mandate.

It urged citizens to disregard false narratives surrounding the incident and cooperate in national security management.

However, sources told Vanguard that SERAP’s investigations into sensitive government matters without necessary approvals, prompted the DSS action.

Their publications and statements were deemed detrimental to national security, allegedly spreading misinformation and fueling public unrest.