Alleged Terrorism Financing: What NLC President Told Police — Sources

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, was interrogated by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigerian Police on allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.

The session, which took place yesterday, August 20, at the Police headquarters, revealed key details of the allegations and the defense provided by Ajaero.

The police had initially invited Ajaero for questioning on August 19, following accusations related to his involvement in these serious criminal activities.

The interrogation, attended by notable human rights activists such as Femi Falana, SAN, Maxwell Opara, Deji Adeyanju, as well as officials from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), was brief and lasted under 30 minutes.

During the session, the focus of the police’s inquiry was on the operator of the Iva Valley Bookshop located on the second floor of the Labour House, which allegedly had links to the criminal activities.

Ajaero, however, distanced himself and the NLC from any involvement with the suspect, stating that their relationship was strictly that of a landlord and tenant.

He further clarified that the suspect neither consulted for the NLC nor had any documented communication with the organization.

A source who spoke with Vanguard revealed, “At some point, Comrade Ajaro was almost infuriated because they (interrogators) were just calling Joseph Ajaero without reference to his official position as NLC President.

“In a normal situation, the Police ought to have just called the NLC president for the invitation and not write him. They failed to do so because of their sinister motives. In all, it was like a friendly chat that did not last up to 30 minutes.”