Joe Ajaero has been granted Administrative Bail by the DSS.
The Genius Media Nigeria reports that The Department of State Services (DSS) has granted administrative bail to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero.
Pro-democracy activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, confirmed the development on Monday night via his verified X handle.
Announcing the his release in a tweet, Sowore wrote, “BREAKING: The fascist regime of @officialABAT has released the @NLCHeadquarters President Joe Ajaero from @OfficialDSSNG custody on bail.”
TGM reported earlier that Ajaero, who was en route to the United Kingdom to attend and speak at the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Britain, was apprehended at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja without any prior notice or legal warrant.
His arrest has been linked to inquiries into alleged terrorism financing involving a British national named Andrew Wynne.
During his detention, Ajaero was subjected to extensive questioning not only by the DSS but also by police officers.
According to Ajaero, the interrogation focused on his alleged involvement in the financing of terrorism and his connections to the #EndBadGovernance protests that swept across the nation in August.
Despite his release, he noted that the secret police have seized his travel passport.
Ajaero’s earlier arrest had sparked widespread condemnation from various quarters, including the TUC, global rights group Amnesty International, and notable human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, who have all demanded his immediate and unconditional release.
The NLC had issued a stern ultimatum to the DSS, demanding Ajaero’s release by Monday midnight and putting its affiliates, state councils, civil society allies, and supporters on high alert over what it termed a “troubling development.”
This is not the first time Ajaero has faced security challenges; he was previously arrested in November of last year in Imo State on the eve of a planned protest over unpaid workers’ salaries and other issues.
