The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has firmly rejected the serious allegations leveled against its National President, Joe Ajaero, by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), labeling the accusations as ‘plain mischief.’
The NLC’s head of the information department, Benson Upah, condemned the charges during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday. The police had accused Ajaero of terrorism financing, treasonable felony, cybercrime, and related offenses in a letter dated August 19, 2024.
The letter, signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Adamu Muazu, indicated that Ajaero was summoned for questioning and warned of a potential arrest warrant if he failed to appear for interrogation on Tuesday.
Upah vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that they are part of an effort to discredit the Labour movement. He emphasized that the NLC’s focus remains on promoting Nigerians’ integrity, sovereignty, and welfare, rather than engaging in criminal activities.
Upah stated, “They talked about conspiracy, treasonable felony, terrorism financing, and cybercrime. I want to assure you with every sense of honor that we have nothing to do with those crimes. For most of them securing Nigeria, it is about salary and wages, but for us at the Labour movement, our driving motive has always been the integrity, sovereignty of this country, and the welfare of the people. The state has awesome powers.
When a state wants to keep you busy, they throw these kinds of charges, but they have picked on the wrong customer. We don’t even have enough money to meet our needs. We will now engage in terrorism financing. It is plain mischief.”
The NLC has vowed to continue its advocacy for workers and remain steadfast despite the allegations.
