DSS releases Joe Ajaero’s seized passport

The Department of State Services (DSS) has released the passport of Joe Ajaero, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The passport was returned on Tuesday through Abubakar Marshall, a lawyer from the Femi Falana chambers. NLC spokesperson Benson Upah confirmed the release.

Ajaero was detained by DSS operatives on Monday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja as he prepared to board a flight to the United Kingdom.

He was en route to the UK at the invitation of Britain’s Trade Union Congress (TUC) to represent Nigerian workers at an important international labour conference.

Following his arrest, the NLC called on all its affiliates, state councils, and Nigerian workers to remain vigilant and on high alert and demanded his “unconditional” release by midnight.

The DSS complied, releasing Ajaero later that night.

Earlier, on August 19, the police had invited Ajaero for questioning over allegations including criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.

Ajaero declined the initial invitation, requesting details of the charges, which led to a rescheduled interview on August 29.

He attended the rescheduled interview with Falana and other labour leaders.

The police subsequently issued another invitation for Ajaero and Emma Ugboaja, the NLC’s general secretary, to appear on September 5.

However, Falana stated that Ajaero’s arrest on Monday was unrelated to this police invitation.

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