The August 21, 2024 edition of Vanguard highlighted reactions from local and international civil society, human rights, and labor organizations to the Nigeria Police invitation to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, to appear before them on August 20, 2024, “for an interview” related to an investigation into “a case of Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion, and Cybercrime in which you have been implicated.”
Coming under the headline, “We won’t be silenced over mass suffering in Nigeria – NLC,” the subheads for the reactions include: Anger grows over Police invitation; NLC alerts global labor bodies; ITUC expresses concerns; ITUC Africa warns of dire consequences; Nigerian government targeting NLC leaders, Amnesty International alleges; Ajaero’s invitation disturbing – Yiaga Africa; Desperate attempts to silence labor – CISLAC; We demand thorough investigation – ActionAid; Why Ajaero turned down Police invitation – Falana; and NLC directs workers to shut down the economy.
Save for one or two of the reactions, the responders questioned the power of the police to invite Ajaero – on the grounds of alleged political motive and design to silence public dissent to official actions that affect the masses – and warned of “dire consequences” should Ajaero be arrested in the course of unearthing the grave subversive and treasonous allegations.
The responders quoted national and international laws, conventions, and charters that the Nigerian government and security agencies had violated in their alleged erosion of the rights of workers to freedom of expression, association, and assembly.
They concluded that the police summons to Ajaero was predicated on the fallout of the August 1 to August 10, 2024, #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest against economic hardship occasioned by the policies of President Bola Tinubu’s government since May 2023.
The responders were incensed that the police invitation to Ajaero came after the NLC leadership criticized alleged police brutality and killing of scores of protesters during the national protest – an accusation the police denied via the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, who noted that police officers assigned to manage the protest were actually the victims of attacks by the protesters.
For the few exceptions, such as ActionAid, which acknowledged that “No one is above the law except you have immunity, and if you have immunity, after your tenure, you will be prosecuted” – and the stand of the lawyer to the NLC, rights activist Femi Falana (SAN) – other respondents didn’t bother about the nexus of the police allegations and Ajaero’s decision to honor the invitation, if duly and properly routed.
While the NLC was rattling the saber on behalf of Ajaero, Chief Falana towed the path of civility, decorum, and honor, and sought deferment of the invitation to Wednesday, August 29, as the notice was too short, and Ajaero had a prior appointment before the police letter arrived.
In a missive to the police, titled “Re: Letter of invitation,” Falana said: “We have the instructions of Comrade Joe Ajaero to inform you that he is unable to honor your invitation on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, in view of the fact that your invitation letter was received by him yesterday (August 19). He has an engagement that had been fixed before the receipt of the invitation letter.
Therefore, Comrade Ajaero is prepared for your interview on Wednesday, August 29, 2024.
“Furthermore, in accordance with the provisions of Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as altered, Comrade Ajaero requests for the details and nature of the allegations of Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion, and Cybercrime leveled against him.”
Meanwhile, the NLC, asking for an extension of the police invitation, simultaneously issued a notice directing its affiliates and allies to shut down the Nigerian economy should the police arrest Ajaero – giving no room for a lawful arrest via a duly-obtained warrant issued by a court of competent authority.
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Relaying the NLC position, after a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on August 20, the union’s Deputy President, Kabiru Ado Sani, who briefed workers gathered at the Labour House in solidarity with Ajaero, said: “At the end of the meeting, we reached some certain resolutions. Part of the resolutions is that, as a committed labor center, we agreed or that we abide by the rule of law and due process.
“We will honor the invitation of the Nigerian police because we are not a faceless organization
