NLC Leaders Summoned by Police Over Alleged Criminal Intimidation**

The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, and the union’s General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, have been summoned to appear before the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Department (NPF-FID) in Abuja on September 24. This summons is related to allegations of criminal intimidation and other offenses.

Initially scheduled to meet with the police on September 5, the labour leaders postponed the meeting due to prior engagements. Maxwell Opara, a member of their legal team, confirmed that Mr. Ajaero had official duties that prevented him from attending the earlier meeting, but he will comply with the new date.

In a letter dated August 28, the NPF-FID requested that Ajaero and Ugboaja attend an interview on September 5 as part of an investigation into alleged “criminal intimidation, conduct likely to breach public peace, and malicious damage to property.” This request followed Mr. Ajaero’s earlier appearance before the Nigeria Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on August 29.

The NLC has strongly criticized the police summons and a recent raid on its headquarters, describing these actions as attempts to intimidate the union amidst the country’s economic challenges.

When PREMIUM TIMES visited the FID office on Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja, on September 5, the labour leaders did not show up for the scheduled interview. An officer confirmed that no formal communication was received from the labour leaders requesting a postponement.

Despite several attempts by PREMIUM TIMES to reach Mr. Ugboaja and the NLC’s Head of Media, Benson Upah, for comments, there was no response.

Background on the Case

On August 7, police raided a bookshop located on the second floor of the NLC headquarters in Abuja. The bookshop, owned by a Briton named Drew Povey (identified by the police as Andrew Whynne), was the focal point of the investigation. Mr. Povey was reportedly out of the country during the raid. The Nigeria Police Intelligence Response Team (NPF-I) later summoned Mr. Ajaero, who appeared on August 29.

Maxwell Opara, who accompanied Mr. Ajaero to the interrogation, revealed that the questioning primarily revolved around the ownership and operations of the bookshop rather than any terrorism-related offenses.

The police have since declared Mr. Povey wanted, and the Federal High Court has issued a warrant for his arrest, alleging that he plotted an insurrection against Nigeria. Mr. Povey has denied any wrongdoing, stating that he only supported peaceful protests for good governance in Nigeria.

He has been a visitor to Nigeria for 27 years and has operated the bookshop at the NLC headquarters for seven years. He urged the Nigerian government not to criminalize peaceful protests in a democracy.

The court has also issued arrest warrants for two Nigerians allegedly associated with Mr. Povey. Additionally, on Monday, the government arraigned 10 Nigerians who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protest. They are accused of conspiring with Mr. Povey to destabilize Nigeria and calling for the military to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government. They have been remanded in prison.