The Department of State Services (DSS) has released seized passport of Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
DSS released the passport after pressure from the unions.
The DSS had seized the labour leader’s phones and passport following his arrest and detention which spanned several hours, in Abuja on Monday.
We had earlier reported that the DSS had granted administrative bail to Ajaero.
This followed an extended period of detention, in which Ajaero’s detention sparked widespread concerns and intense speculation regarding the circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention.
Providing an update to SaharaReporters on Tuesday, lawyers close to the NLC president said the DSS was forced to release Ajaero’s passport and mobile phones, which it seized on Monday.
“They refused to release his passport and initially his phones but returned his phone last night after he refused to leave the DSS headquarters without his phones.
“This morning (Tuesday), they finally released his passport to him through his lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, from the Femi & Falana’s Chambers. They held back his passport because they did not want him to travel.”
SaharaReporters on Monday morning reported that Ajaero was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while on his way to the United Kingdom to attend the Trade Union Congress conference in London.
Meanwhile, the NLC earlier postponed a meeting scheduled for 9 am on Tuesday, SaharaReporters was told.
“NLC has suspended a meeting meant to address his detention scheduled for 9am. They are waiting for Joe Ajaero (himself) to call for a meeting to decide the next steps the congress will take regarding the harassment and intimidation of their leader,” a union leader told SaharaReporters.
Meanwhile, the NLC on Monday accused the DSS of arresting Ajaero without a warrant.
In a press statement issued by Benson Upah, NLC Head of Information and Public Affairs on Monday, the labour union strongly condemned the arrest and detention of its President.
The union said: “We wish to categorically state that Comrade Ajaero has been detained without any legal warrant or formal instrument. Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive.
“His detention is therefore a brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation as he has not been declared wanted by any law enforcement body. His detention is a brazen act of intimidation and completely unjustified under the laws of our nation.
“The mere contemplation of not just stopping a lawful citizen from travelling but also sequestering his freedom is an affront to our democratic and natural rights as a people and as workers.
“This is an unmistakable demonstration of the height of lawlessness being perpetuated by the Nigerian government and its agencies in their bid to silence every voice of dissent and opposition in the country as the economic policies of the government continue to afflict the people with monumental suffering and hardship. Such actions are not only undemocratic but immoral as well as a direct affront to the fundamental rights of citizens and organizations to lawfully express their views and carry out their activities.
“In light of this troubling development, the Congress puts all its affiliates, State Councils, Civil society allies and all patriotic Nigerians on the highest state of alert. The Congress will not stand idly by while the rights of its leaders and members are trampled upon. Accordingly, we demand for the immediate and unconditional release of comrade Joe Ajaero.”
