The Federal Government has refuted accusations of human rights abuses made by the United Kingdom Trade Union Congress (TUC) following the arrest of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero. The government emphasized that no individual, including Ajaero, is above the law in Nigeria.
Ajaero was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on his way to London for a TUC conference. The arrest was linked to Ajaero's refusal to comply with an invitation from a law enforcement agency investigating an ongoing case.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, stated, "The Nigerian government was wrongly accused of rights abuse because the NLC President was stopped from traveling abroad after he ignored the summons of a law enforcement agency. No one is above the law, and Mr. Ajaero should have complied with the investigation."
The government further highlighted that similar actions are not uncommon in other democracies, citing examples of investigations involving high-profile individuals like former U.S. President Donald Trump and Hunter Biden. Onanuga added that the government remains committed to protecting civil liberties and that the arrest had no connection to Ajaero's role as NLC President.
Meanwhile, Ajaero, who was released after intense pressure from local and international communities, described his ordeal in the hands of the DSS and the Intelligence Response Team (IRT). He noted that his international passport and phones, which were seized during his detention, have been returned.
The NLC condemned the arrest, describing it as a violation of democratic principles, and announced plans to conduct a comprehensive medical check on Ajaero to ensure his health was not compromised during his detention. The union also reiterated its commitment to defending workers' rights and called for the release of individuals detained during the #EndBadGovernance protests.
In response to the situation, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticized the government for focusing on civil society rather than addressing issues like terrorism and banditry. He condemned the recent actions of the DSS, including their presence at the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) office in Abuja, describing them as an assault on civil liberties.
The DSS, however, denied allegations of unlawfully invading SERAP’s office, stating that the visit was part of a routine investigation. The agency assured the public of its commitment to professionalism and urged citizens to disregard false narratives surrounding the incident.
