The scheduled interrogation of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero did not take place on Thursday, as both Ajaero and NLC Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja were absent from the police headquarters in Abuja. The session, which was expected to delve into serious allegations, including terrorism financing and subversion, has now been rescheduled at the request of the labour leaders.
According to sources at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja, neither Ajaero nor Ugboaja appeared for the scheduled questioning. A source with inside knowledge of the situation revealed that both leaders had formally communicated their inability to attend. “They did not appear. They notified investigators in writing, requesting to reschedule the session to September 25,” the source stated.
Ajaero’s legal counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), who had accompanied him during his initial appearance on August 29, had indicated on Wednesday that the labour leaders might seek to postpone the session due to prior engagements. On Thursday, Falana confirmed, “We asked for a different date as Comrade Joe Ajaero had an engagement outside Abuja today.”
The absence of the NLC leadership comes amid an ongoing investigation into serious allegations leveled against Ajaero, including terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony. These charges arose after a police raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja, where authorities claimed they had uncovered evidence linking Ajaero to a British national, Andrew Wynne. Wynne is suspected of providing financial support to recent protests under the #EndBadGovernance and #Hunger movements, which police allege were organized to destabilize the government of President Bola Tinubu.
The protest movements, which gained momentum in response to widespread economic grievances, have caused growing concern within the government. The allegations against Ajaero suggest that his involvement, along with foreign financial backing, could have escalated the unrest into a potential national security threat. Despite these allegations, Ajaero and his legal team maintain that the protests were legitimate expressions of public frustration over worsening economic conditions.
Following Ajaero’s initial appearance at the FCID on August 29, a follow-up letter was issued by the Commissioner of Police, Operations, Ibitoye Alajide, on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department (FID). The letter requested Ajaero and Ugboaja to reappear on Thursday, September 5, for further questioning. The notice referenced additional investigations into allegations of criminal intimidation, incitement of public unrest, and property damage during the protests.
The letter specifically stated: “In furtherance of investigations into the alleged case of criminal intimidation, actions likely to breach public peace, and malicious damage to property in which your name was mentioned, you are requested to appear with Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja for an interview with the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department (FID) at SPO’s Room 112, 2nd Floor, FID Complex, Shehu Shagari Way, opposite Force Headquarters, Area 11, Garki, Abuja on Thursday, 5th September 2024, at 11 a.m.”
