Between the Police and leadership of Labour Congress
The accusations and counter accusations bordering on criminality between the Police and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) can be better managed than confusing the issues to heat the polity unduly. Both parties must play by the rules. While the police are expected to exercise professionalism in their conduct, the leadership of the NLC should not attempt to undermine duties of the police. This is especially necessary in a country presently embattled on many fronts, including tackling terrorism, kidnapping, insurgency and sundry other crimes in which innocent Nigerians are being murdered daily. There should be no grandstanding on the part of the two feuding parties. Nigerians are only interested in the truth about their safety and security.
On august 7, 2024, the Nigeria Police raided the National Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress, also known as Labour House, located in the Central Business District of Abuja, in what was explained by the Police as a manhunt for a criminal suspect.
In an initial statement released on August 9, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the raid was not targeted at the NLC Secretariat, but at a criminal suspect traced to a rented shop within the building. The statement said the raid followed an ongoing investigation of which the prime suspect was traced to the Labour House.
Explaining the raid, the Police said: “Detectives armed with the appropriate legal authority conducted an operation at the location, which turned out to be the NLC building.” The prime suspect, the Police said, was a foreigner who fronted criminal activities in the country and across other African countries. The police thus asked for cooperation and support of the NLC leadership in its investigations, in the effort to make the country safe. The NLC, on August 10, however, disputed the position of the Police regarding the raid, claiming the Police actually forced their ways into its offices, after close of work.
“The Police claim to be conducting a nationwide investigation that comprises other countries, yet, their so-called intelligence led them to our building well after office hours. If they were acting in good faith, why did their investigation take them specifically to the 10th floor, where the offices of the NLC president and general secretary are located? This is nothing short of harassment under the guise of an investigation,” the NLC’s General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, stated.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also condemned what it considered an illegal invasion of the workers’ house. Executive Secretary of the commission, Tony Ojukwu, SAN, said such behaviour in a country governed by the Rule of Law was unacceptable.
The trading of accusations is actually needless, if not for the existing suspicion and lack of trust between the police and the Labour Congress. There are better ways to enforce law in a democracy. The Police could have better handled the raid and come out clean with their intentions. The NLC Secretariat is a major landmark in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and the insinuation that the Police did not know the location of the Secretariat is not convincing. Why climb to the 10th floor that houses offices of the NLC president and general secretary to look for a suspect?
Again, why did it take the Police close to 48 hours to own up to the raid, after the NLC had ignorantly blamed the invasion on the Department of State Security (DSS)? Why didn’t the Police give notice to the NLC, the officially recognised workers’ body with whom the government is regularly engaged, of an impending raid to capture a foreign national allegedly holed up in its Secretariat, if indeed they (Police) were armed with appropriate legal authority?
Matters took a turn on August 19, when the Police issued invitation to the NLC president for questioning over terrorism financing, treason, and other offences, with a warning that failure to honour the invitation would lead to activation of warrant of arrest. Ajaero reported to the headquarters of Police Intelligent Response Team (IRT) in Abuja yesterday. Reports have it that he wrote his statement after interrogation, and left the headquarters an hour later.
Indeed, charges of terrorism financing, treason and related offences are not to be taken lightly. We do not want to contemplate that the Police will make these grave allegations without a basis. Therefore, we urge the two sides to close ranks and follow due process in handling the matter, without resorting to strong-arm tactics that will further overheat the polity. Matters relating to security and safety of the country are sensitive and must be taken seriously by all. The Police must be encouraged to do its job, but that must be done professionally and within the ambit of law.
Labour has alleged intimidation and harassment, which is not the right path for government to take. The Amnesty International (AI) has condemned the threat to arrest Ajaero, describing it as a fresh attempt to intimidate and harass the leadership of the workers’ union.
This should not be the case here. While the Police should be transparent and allow due process to dictate the procedure in resolving the face-off, Labour should be reminded that Nigerians also need a safe country for them, including labour, to ply their trade.
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