Comrade Joe Ajaero, Nigeria Labour Congress President, was questioned about a certain British-Russian citizen when he honoured a police invitation in Abuja on Thursday over alleged terrorism financing and other allegations.
Ajaero honoured the invitation by the Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team on Thursday in company with his lawyer Mr Femi Falana (SAN) and another human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju.
Ajaero had been invited by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), over allegations of “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”
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The invitation, detailed in an official letter, required Ajaero to appear for an interview on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at the IRT Complex in Guzape District, Abuja.
But he declined to honour the invitation on account that it was too sudden and that he had other official engagements scheduled for the same date.
Legal counsel for NLC, Femi Falana (SAN) had written the police authorities, informing them that his client could only honour the invitation today, August 29, 2024.
SaharaReporters learnt that the police meeting with the labour leader was attended by Falana, Ajaero, Adeyanju, and the leader of Police IRT Unit, DCP Sanusi Mohammed.
The meeting between Ajaero and police officials lasted a brief 20 minutes, during which the labour leader strongly condemned the August 7 invasion of the NLC Headquarters.
He expressed frustration over the formal invitation, suggesting a simple phone call or text would have been more appropriate. Sources reveal that Ajaero was flanked by agents from the Department of State Services, National Intelligence Agency, and other intelligence agencies.
It was learnt that their main question to Ajaero centred around a certain British Russian citizen running the NLC bookshop, whom they claimed was suspected to be “trying to destabilise” Nigeria.
SaharaReporters on Tuesday broke the story that the IRT on Monday evening arrested Adeyemi Abayomi Abiodun, an employee of Mr Drew Povey who runs Iva Valley Bookshop at the Labour House (NLC Headquarters) in Abuja.
SaharaReporters learnt that the police team picked up Abiodun at around 6 pm on Monday.
Last Wednesday, August 21, 2024, SaharaReporters reported that the police had raided the home of Drew Povey in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests and alleged terrorism financing.
Earlier that Wednesday, SaharaReporters reported a similar raid on the home of Stars of Nations Schools Principal, Helen Batubo, at Serenity Estate, Karshi, in Nasarawa State, also related to the protests.
Batubo is related to Mr Povey.
SaharaReporters reported last Tuesday that the school administrator had been invited by the IRT over allegations of “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”
During Thursday’s meeting between police and Ajaero’s legal team, led by Falana, security operatives failed to produce evidence linking Ajaero to terrorism. Instead, they cited his residence on Abuja’s outskirts as a reason for suspicion, implying it was unusual given that he could afford to live in posh areas in the Federal Capital Territory.
Falana’s team countered, questioning if living outside affluent areas constitutes a crime in Nigeria. The police were reportedly baffled, downplaying the issue’s severity and stating that Ajaero’s presence wasn’t necessary.
They then alleged that a British Russian funded detained #EndBadGovernance protesters, but the legal team challenged this, asking if protesting or sponsoring protests is illegal.
One of the sources said, “When they raised the issue of Ajaero living on the outskirts of Abuja, the legal team led by Falana asked if it is crime to live on the outskirts of Abuja while living legitimately in Nigeria.
“They however said they found that the British Russian man sent money to some #EndBadGovernance protesters now in detention. But this was also shut down by the legal team who asked the police if it is crime to protest or sponsor protests.
“After some back and forth, the legal team told the police and security agents present to release all the protesters in detention and that there is no such thing as treason or terrorism in the weak case they presented.
“They also noted that if they have evidence, they should charge the suspects in their custody and present it in court.”
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Ajaero had returned from the IRT Complex after honouring the police invitation.
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 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.”
[SAHARAREPORTERS]
