By Victor Osula, Abuja
The Department of State Services (DSS) has released Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on administrative bail.
An NLC official, who confirmed the development, said Ajaero was released Monday night, at about 11.10pm.
Comrade Ajaero was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday morning, by DSS while on his way to the United Kingdom to attend a Trade Union Congress meeting.
A source within the agency said Ajaero was arrested over his failure to honour invitation sent to him last week following a petition against him.
“Last week, we invited him (Ajaero) through the normal channel, which is on the telephone. A very senior director extended the invitation and was mandated to handle the investigation. Ajaero promised to come today, Monday. The next thing we heard was that Ajaero was sighted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, trying to board an international flight”, the source said.
At a point it was said, the petition was by Air Peace, but the airline denied it, saying it had withdrawn the petition long ago
It said, “Air Peace Airline expresses deep concern over recent media reports regarding the arrest of the President of the NLC in connection to a petition filed by the airline in September 2023. This development, which has led to negative publicity, does not reflect the current relationship between Air Peace and the NLC.” THISAGE learnt the airline withdrew the petition in May 2024.
Earlier, the NLC had demanded immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Ajaero on or before midnight of Monday.
The source, however, said the NLC President was released Monday night after being quizzed for several hours.
