LEAKED! This Is The Key Question NLC President Was Asked By Police During 20-minute Long Interrogation [MUST READ]
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In an exclusive report, Sahara Reporter, a notable online news platform in Nigeria, revealed that it has it on good authority the key question that dominated the interrogation of Comrade Joe Ajaero, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, President, by the Nigerian Police in Abuja on Thursday.
Recall that the labour leader honoured the police invitation extended to him over a week ago on Thursday.
Comrade Ajaero honoured the invitation by the Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team in the company with his lawyer Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) and another human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju.
Comrade Ajaero had been invited by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team, IRT, over allegations of “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”
The invitation, detailed in an official letter, required Comrade Ajaero to appear for an interview on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at the IRT Complex in Guzape District, Abuja.
But he declined to honour the invitation on account that it was too sudden and that he had other official engagements scheduled for the same date.
Legal counsel for NLC, Femi Falana (SAN) had written the police authorities, informing them that his client could only honour the invitation today, August 29, 2024.
During the meeting, Comrade Ajaero was questioned about a certain British-Russian citizen.
The meeting lasted a brief 20 minutes, during which the labour leader strongly condemned the August 7 invasion of the NLC Headquarters.
He expressed frustration over the formal invitation, suggesting a simple phone call or text would have been more appropriate.
Sources reveal that Comrade Ajaero was flanked by agents from the Department of State Services, DSS, National Intelligence Agency, NIA, and other intelligence agencies.
It was learnt that their main question to Comrade Ajaero centred around a certain British Russian citizen running the NLC bookshop, whom they claimed was suspected to be “trying to destabilise” Nigeria.
Recall that on Tuesday it was reported that the IRT on Monday evening arrested Adeyemi Abayomi Abiodun, an employee of Mr. Drew Povey who runs Iva Valley Bookshop at the Labour House (NLC Headquarters) in Abuja.
It was learnt that the police team picked up Abiodun at around 6 p.m. on Monday.
Last Wednesday, August 21, 2024, it was reported that the police raided the home of Drew Povey in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests and alleged terrorism financing.
Earlier that Wednesday, a similar raid was reported on the home of Stars of Nations Schools Principal, Helen Batubo, at Serenity Estate, Karshi, in Nasarawa State, also related to the protests.
Note that Batubo is related to Mr. Povey.
Last Tuesday, it was reported that the school administrator had been invited by the IRT over allegations of “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”
During Thursday’s meeting between police and Comrade Ajaero’s legal team, led by Mr. Falana, security operatives failed to produce evidence linking Comrade Ajaero to terrorism.
Instead, they cited his residence on Abuja’s outskirts as a reason for suspicion, implying it was unusual given that he could afford to live in posh areas in the Federal Capital Territory.
Mr. Falana’s team countered, questioning if living outside affluent areas constitutes a crime in Nigeria. The police were reportedly baffled, downplaying the issue’s severity and stating that Comrade Ajaero’s presence wasn’t necessary.
They then alleged that a British-Russian funded detained #EndBadGovernance protesters, but the legal team challenged this, asking if protesting or sponsoring protests is illegal.
One of the sources said, “When they raised the issue of Ajaero living on the outskirts of Abuja, the legal team led by Falana asked if it is a crime to live on the outskirts of Abuja while living legitimately in Nigeria.
“They however said they found that the British-Russian man sent money to some #EndBadGovernance protesters now in detention. But this was also shut down by the legal team who asked the police if it is a crime to protest or sponsor protests.
“After some back and forth, the legal team told the police and security agents present to release all the protesters in detention and that there is no such thing as treason or terrorism in the weak case they presented.
“They also noted that if they have evidence, they should charge the suspects in their custody and present it in court.”
Following the meeting, Comrade Ajaero has since returned from the IRT Complex.
He was accompanied back to the Labour House at about 11:30 a.m. by the Deputy Lead Counsel, Maxwell Opara from the Falana & Falana’s Chambers and some other lawyers.
He said he was not deterred or discouraged, adding that he would continue the struggle for the implementation of the new minimum wage that was signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said, “We have gone there and we are back and you can’t do this job we are doing without this type of hazard. It’s expected. For those of you who called me, I told them this is the hazard of the job. Even at the unit level, some of us experience this.
“As far back as 1998, I was telling Falana we were together in the cell enjoying ourselves in the time of Abacha.
“What is important is the circumstances that took me to that place and whatever it is we are out to continue the struggle. We have gotten minimum wage which has not been implemented so we have to press for its implementation as soon as possible.
“Every other thing that will make the welfare of Nigeria workers worthwhile, we will be involved in it.
“We will not listen to any distraction. On behalf of the NLC, NAC, NEC and CWC for the level of the solidarity they have shown here, I want to say thank you.”
Meanwhile, human rights activist and convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore, has announced that the planned fearless nationwide protest in October 2024 will not stop until the Nigerian government meets the demands of citizens.
Sowore mentioned this while speaking on a Twitter Space conducted by the News Central TV on Thursday.
The next phase of the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests, starting October 1, seeks to tackle Nigeria’s bad governance issues.
He said the protest, scheduled for October, is an avenue for Nigerians to express their displeasure on various issues affecting the country, including corruption, insecurity, and economic hardship.
He said: “They (the government) have broken the law by seeking orders that are not legitimate. And what we said within our circle is that when the government decides to bend the law by using the law unjustifiably, the law has to be relaxed. The people have a duty not to allow these laws to restrict them.
“That was what happened on the first day to the third day of #EndBadGovernance. People were not restricted to those places chosen by the government officials who went and colluded with certain judges to issue these illegitimate orders.
“I want to say that the protests were quite successful. It was successful before, during and even after. We don’t want to spend much time discussing what has happened. We are planning a new one in October on October 1 and we haven’t decided when that one will stop. We will not stop until we win.”
Note that Sowore had earlier released a list of 17 key demands from Nigerians as part of the upcoming ‘October Revolt’ protest.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, in 2019 and 2023 general elections, had noted that the demands were compiled from the feedback received from Nigerians participating in the #EndBadGovernance campaign.
The protesters issued non-negotiable demands to President Tinubu’s administration, and the first is the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals detained for participating in the initial #EndBadGovernance protests from August 1-10.
Additionally, as part of the first one, the protesters demand the unfreezing of protesters’ assets and bank accounts, as well as fair compensation for the distress and hardships endured during the peaceful demonstrations.
