.. . Ajaero released after spending 15hours with secret police
. ..DSS seizes his passport
…Air Peace distances self from NLC President, Ajaero’s arrest
…Tinubu Setting New Record Of Impunity – Amnesty International
….: National grid risks shutdown as electricity workers issue protest notice
…NLC Demands Immediate Release Of Ajaero, Puts Affiliates On Alert

The Department of State Services (DSS) has released labour leader Joe Ajaero, Salient Times has learnt.

Ajaero, who confirmed his release to our correspondent, said the secret police allowed him to go home around past 11pm on Monday.

The Nigeria Labour Congress president said he was grilled for about 15 hours since his arrest around 7am at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Ajaero, however, said his travel passport was seized by the secret police

The labour leader said though he was detained by the DSS, some police officers also came around to grill him at the DSS office in Abuja over the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests that took place in August.

Ajaero said he was quizzed over alleged terrorism financing involving a British national, Andrew Wynne.

The labour leader was on his way to the United Kingdom on Monday for a Trade Union Congress (TUC) event when he was arrested at Abuja airport.

The NLC had earlier condemned Ajaero’s arrest and gave the secret police Tuesday midnight to release the labour leader. The union had also put all its affiliates, state councils, civil society allies and all patriotic Nigerians on the highest state of alert in the light of “this troubling development.”

The TUC, global rights group Amnesty International, as well as human rights activist Femi Falana, amongst others, had berated the Federal Government for clamping down on the labour leader and demanded his immediate and unconditional release.

The NLC president had honoured police invitation over allegations of terrorism financing in late August, insisting on his innocence.

Ajaero was previously arrested last November in Imo State when he was about to lead a protest over unpaid workers’ salaries, amongst others

Ajaero also failed to honour an invitation by the Department of State Services (DSS) over an alleged case of extortion, according to the sources.

Also, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), which handles Nigeria’s security issues involving foreigners, invited Ajaero over the case of Andrew Wynne, a Briton accused of sponsoring terrorism in Nigeria — an allegation Wynne denies.

Ajaero also shunned the invitation.

The NLC president previously said he was not going to honour police invitation over his relationship with Wynne but he later changed his mind.

The police quizzed and released him the same day but later invited him for further questioning but he refused to turn up, the sources said

In August, the police had invited Ajaero for questioning over “a case of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime”.

The force said an arrest warrant would be issued on Ajaero if he did not honour the invitation.

Police had raided the NLC building in the Central Business District of Abuja.

The NLC said operatives who raided the building “claimed that they were looking for seditious materials used for the #EndBadGovernance protests”.

Subsequently, Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), said one of the masterminds of the Sudan conflict was traced to the NLC headquarters.

The IGP added that police detectives traced the foreigner to a bookshop within the Labour House, and that operatives did not raid the entire secretariat.

Wynne has since been declared wanted.

Meanwhile, Global rights group Amnesty International has condemned the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, by the Department of State Services (DSS).

In a statement on Monday, the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said with the attack on Ajaero, President Bola Tinubu is setting a new record of impunity.

Sanusi said, “Amnesty International strongly condemns the unlawful arrest of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero by the Department of State Services (DSS) today. The labour union leader must be immediately and unconditionally released.

“The arbitrary arrest of Joe Ajaero shows an escalating crackdown on human rights and restrictions on civic space by the government of President Bola Tinubu.

“President Bola Tinubu’s government persistently attacks and undermines the operations of the NLC, through fabricated allegations, raids on NLC headquarters and other forms of harassment and intimidation. This growing culture of impunity and disdain for workers’ rights to organize and seek better welfare must stop.

“President Tinubu is setting a new record of utter disregard for the rule of law.

Amnesty International has observed, in the last one year, the increasing crackdown by the Nigerian authorities on the labour union and civic space. The authorities continue to weaponize the police and SSS to repress the human rights of Nigerians.

“Nigeria is a party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, including trade union membership and activities. The country is also a member of the International Labour Organization, whose fundamental principles include the right to organize, are binding on all members.”

“Under international human rights law workers cannot be targeted for participating in trade union activities. The Nigerian authorities have an obligation not only to respect the rights of workers but also to protect these rights from abuse.

“Joe Ajaero is arrested solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights and must be immediately and unconditionally released,” the statement concluded.