The scheduled second interrogation of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, by the police did not take place on Thursday as planned, with Ajaero and the NLC Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, failing to appear at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja.
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A Punch correspondent who was at the FCID confirmed the absence of both Ajaero and Ugboaja, who were expected to answer questions regarding an ongoing investigation.
A source familiar with the situation disclosed that the NLC leaders had informed the investigating team in advance that they would be unavailable for the scheduled interrogation.
The source said, “They did not show up. I am aware they have written those handling their case that they wouldn’t be coming today. They asked them to expect them on September 25.”
Counsel for the NLC, Femi Falana (SAN), who accompanied Ajaero to the police headquarters for his first appearance on August 29, had told the platform on Wednesday that the labour leaders might likely seek a postponement of the interrogation.
Speaking further on the matter on Thursday, Falana said, “We wrote for another date as Comrade Joe Ajaero has an engagement outside Abuja today.”
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The police are quizzing Ajaero over allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony.
His invitation came in the wake of a night raid by the police on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja.
The police are alleging a link between the labour leader and a Briton, Andrew Wynne, who has been accused of financing the recent #EndBadGovernance or #Hunger protest in the country to allegedly overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.
Following Ajaero’s first appearance on August 29, the police, in another letter signed by the Commissioner of Police, Operations, Ibitoye Alajide, on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department, Abuja, asked him to appear again on Thursday, September 5, alongside the NLC General Secretary “to answer questions over alleged criminal intimidation, conducts likely to cause a breach of public peace, and malicious damage to property.”
The letter read, “In furtherance of investigations into the alleged case of criminal intimidation, conducts likely to cause breach of public peace and malicious damage to properties in which your name featured, you are requested to come along with Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja for an interview with the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department, FID, through the undersigned, at SPO’s Room 112, 2nd Floor, Force Intelligence Department (FID) Complex, Shehu Shagari Way, opposite Force Headquarters Area 11, Garki, Abuja on Thursday, 5th September 2024 at 11 am.”
