By Victor AhiumaYoung

The Intelligence Response Team, IRT, arm of the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, has invited the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, for questioning over Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion and Cybercrime.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police, IRT, in a letter of invitation, said Ajaero should be at the IRT office on Tuesday, August 20, (today), warning that he would be arrested if he failed to honour the invitation.

The letter of invitation signed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Adamu Mu’azu on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner, dated August 19, titled Letter of invitation, read in part “This office is investigating a case of Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion and Cybercrime in which you were mentioned.

“You are therefore invited to interview the undersigned on Tuesday 20th August, 2024 by 10:00 am prompt, at IRT Complex, Old Abattoir by Guzape Junction, Abuja, through the Team Leader with telephone no 08035179870 in connection with the above investigation.

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

Reacting, an official of NLC told Vanguard that by this act, the government has shown its true colour of fascism and it’s resolved to muscle any group or individual opposed to its anti-people, and anti-poor policies.

“Instead of the government to address the issues raised by the #Endbadgovernance protesters, its agents are busy looking for ways for repressing and cowing people that do not agree with the sufferings, the hardship, pains and frustration their policies have inflicted on the people of Nigeria.”

On whether the NLC President would honour the invitation, he said “We will honour the invitation with full knowledge of journalists and others.”

Meanwhile, reacting, Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, among others, said “A personal message sent to Comrade Joe Ajaero by SP Moshood said, “We were at the Labour House to submit this (letter of invitation) but the place was locked, sir”.

“We find this curious because staff were in the office beyond 6pm. We also note that Comrade Joe Ajaero was not addressed by his official title of President of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

Clearly, the last has not been heard about the raid on the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

Preceding the raid, Congress had advised government to dialogue with the organisers of the protest even as Congress had clearly stated it was not part of the protest. Congress criticised the police for the high casualty rate during the protest.

Congress in its National Executive Council, NEC, communique after the raid expressed outrage at the behaviour of the police and demanded an apology from both the police and government.

At its world press conference last Thursday, Congress raised an alarm that should anything happen to the leadership of the Congress or any of its members, the police should be held accountable.

The question on the lips of those in the know is, who wants Joe Ajaero out of circulation.

Vanguard News