Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), says his letter, requesting the Nigeria Police to shift the date honour the Agency’s invitation on alleged terrorism financing and other crimes from Tuesday August 21st to Wednesday August 29.
Mr Maxwell Opara, a member of Ajaero’s legal team disclosed this on Tuesday African Independent Television (AIT) news hour when he lamented that his Client was dumb founded over the allegations.
Opara said the letter to the Police which was acknowledged on Tuesday afternoon by Police Administrative Secretary on behalf of the Force, would enable Ajaero to prepare himself for police interview.
Mr Opara stated that the NLC President could not honour police invitation due to pressing Union matters moreso that lead Council to the NLC, Femi Falana (SAN) had been away.
He also stated at an emergency held on Tuesday, he persuaded aggrieved workers from declaring strike in response to Ajaero’s invitation by the police.
According to Mr Opara, ”
Ajaero was dumb founded. He doesn’t even know where all these allegations are coming from. Remember that we are dealing with Nigeria government”.
The lawyer said, “You (police) gave him invitation for less than 24 hours to appear. We were in the office today (Tuesday). He (Ajaero) was even trying to see how he can sort out things to honour the invitation.
“But, we said no. His lead Counsel, Femi Falana (SAN) is not even around.
“We have also written to them to give him (Ajaero) some details to get himself prepared for the interview.
“So, we have applied to the extension of time, to honour the invitation. We suggested 29th of August, which will be convenient for him.
“We submitted our letter this afternoon to the police. The Admin officer accepted it on behalf of the police”, according to Mr Opara.
Earlier on Monday August 20th 2024, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, IRT, in a letter of invitation by Intelligence Response Team, IRT, arm of the Nigeria Police Force requested Ajaero appear in person at the IRT office on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Adamu Mu’azu who signed the invitation letter on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner, dated August 19, titled Letter of invitation, , warned that he would be arrested if he failed to honour the invitation.
The document 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”.
TheNewspad recalls that before the development, Ajaero had criticised the federal government for raiding the Building housing the Secretariat in Abuja during the nationwide #EndbadGovernance protests. This was after the workers union had accused the Department of the State Security Service (DSS) to take responsibility for the raid.
But, the police later admitted that it’s personnel carried out the raid at niguin a search of a suspected foreign Criminal behind the violent protests in some parts of Nigeria.
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