Terrorism Financing: NLC President Joe Ajaero’s Interrogation Rescheduled

The scheduled second interrogation of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, by the Nigerian Police did not take place as expected on Thursday, September 5. Ajaero and the NLC Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, who were both summoned for questioning at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja, failed to appear.

According to sources, the labour leaders had informed investigators in advance that they would be unavailable on the scheduled date and requested a new date for the interrogation. The police are now expected to question Ajaero and Ugboaja on September 25.

“They did not show up. I am aware they have written those handling their case that they wouldn’t be coming today. They asked them to expect them on September 25,” a source familiar with the situation said.

Ajaero is under investigation over allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony. These accusations stem from claims of his involvement with Andrew Wynne, a British national accused of funding the recent #EndBadGovernance or #Hunger protests, which are allegedly aimed at destabilizing the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The NLC’s legal counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), who accompanied Ajaero during his initial police appearance on August 29, had earlier hinted at the possibility of rescheduling Thursday’s interrogation. He confirmed that Ajaero had prior engagements outside Abuja on the day of the scheduled meeting.

“We wrote for another date as Comrade Joe Ajaero has an engagement outside Abuja today,” Falana said on Thursday.