Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has been released by the Department of State Services (DSS) after 15 hours of detention.
He was arrested on Monday, September 9, 2024, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while en route to the UK for the World Trade Union Congress (WTUC).
Despite his release, the DSS seized his passport and handed him over to his lawyer, Abubakar Marshall of Falana and Falana Chambers, at around 11 p.m.
The NLC confirmed Ajaero’s release via its official X (formerly Twitter) account early Tuesday morning, reiterating the ongoing struggle.
His detention drew widespread criticism, with Amnesty International and other groups calling for his immediate release.
Ajaero’s lawyer, Maxwell Opara, criticized the arrest, stating that the labour leader had informed the DSS of his planned trip and agreed to meet with them upon his return.
Opara alleged that the government is attempting to undermine Ajaero’s leadership and efforts on behalf of Nigerian workers.
He also accused the authorities of plotting to remove Ajaero from his position to install a more compliant leader.
The NLC has had a tense relationship with the government in recent months.
Ajaero had previously been summoned by the police regarding unrelated issues, including an investigation involving British socialist Andrew Wynee, who operates a bookstore at the NLC’s headquarters and was accused of attempting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Wynee has denied any involvement in treason, defending the protests as legitimate expressions of dissent.
YOU MAY ALSO READ: Nigerian government opens up on plan to increase value-added tax by 2.5%