The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday evening confirmed the invitation of its President, Joe Ajaero, by the police over issues bordering on alleged terrorism financing.
Benson Upah, the spokesperson for the Congress, made this known in a statement he signed and made available to the press.
According to reports, Ajaero was invited by the police for an “interview” on charges connected to “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, reasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”.
The letter of invitation, dated August 19, 2024, and signed by ACP Adamu Mu’azu on behalf of the Commissioner of Police Intelligence, stated that Ajaero’s name was cited in ongoing investigations into “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, reasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”.
As a result, the letter asked Ajaero to report to the IRT Complex, Abbattoir by Guzape Junction, on Tuesday, August 20 at 10 a.m., threatening to issue an arrest warrant if he did not report.
Speaking in the statement, Upah said, “A personal message sent to Comrade Joe Ajaero by SP Moshood said, ‘We were at the Labour House to submit this (letter of invitation), but the place was locked, sir.’
“We find this curious because staff were in the office beyond 6 p.m. We also note that Comrade Joe Ajaero was not addressed by his official title of President of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“Clearly, the last has not been heard about the raid on the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“Preceding the raid, the Congress had advised the government to have a dialogue with the organisers of the (hunger) protest even as the Congress had clearly stated it was not part of the protest.
“The Congress criticised the police for the high casualty rate during the protest. The Congress, in its NEC communiqué after the raid, expressed outrage at the behaviour of the police and demanded an apology from both the police and the government.
“At its world press conference last Thursday, the Congress raised the alarm that should anything happen to the leadership of the Congress or any of its members, the police should be held accountable.
“The question on the lips of those in the know is: Who wants Joe Ajaero out of circulation?”
Chronicle NG reported that security agents, on July 7, conducted a night raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja.
According to the NLC spokesperson, the operatives burst into the building at about 8.30 pm and arrested the security guards, forcing them to hand over keys to the offices on the second floor.
Upah said, “The security operatives, some from the Nigeria Police Force, some wearing black tee-shirts, presumably from the Department of State Services, and others on outright mufti, swooped on the 10th floor of the NLC and arrested the security operative on duty and then commandeered him to the second floor, where he was asked to produce the keys to the offices.”
The police claimed responsibility for the operation, stating that it was intended to unearth damning materials that could help build a case against a worldwide “subversive” figure deemed a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Last Monday, the NLC rejected the police’s explanation for the raid and sought the release of its jailed members and confiscated documents.
The NLC also criticised the government’s attempts to intervene with the organisation’s internal affairs, such as a proposed reduction in trade union leaders’ tenures.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
