The second interrogation of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, by the police, which was scheduled for Thursday, did not take place as Ajaero and NLC Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, failed to appear at the police headquarters in Abuja.
Our correspondent, present at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), reported that neither Ajaero nor Ugboaja showed up for the interrogation. According to a source close to the matter, the NLC leaders had informed investigators that they would not be available on Thursday.
“They didn’t attend. They’ve communicated that they would be available on September 25 instead,” the source disclosed.
Counsel to the NLC, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), who accompanied Ajaero during his first appearance on August 29, had previously indicated that the labour leaders might request a postponement. On Thursday, Falana confirmed, “We requested a new date because Comrade Joe Ajaero had an engagement outside Abuja today.”
The police are investigating Ajaero for alleged involvement in terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony. His summons followed a police raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja.
Authorities are reportedly probing Ajaero’s alleged connection to a Briton, Andrew Wynne, who has been accused of financing the recent #EndBadGovernance or #Hunger protests, allegedly aimed at toppling President Bola Tinubu’s government.
After Ajaero’s first police appearance, a second summons was issued, signed by Commissioner of Police Ibitoye Alajide, on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department. The letter requested Ajaero and Ugboaja to appear on September 5 to answer additional questions related to accusations of criminal intimidation, actions likely to cause public unrest, and malicious property damage.
When asked about the labour leaders’ absence, Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi promised to provide an update but had not done so by the time of this report.
