The Department of State Services (DSS) has released Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), following his arrest on Monday morning at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Ajaero confirmed his release to Channels Television around 11 pm on Monday.
Ajaero was detained for approximately 15 hours and questioned about his involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protests held in August and alleged terrorism financing involving British national Andrew Wynne.
Despite his release, the DSS has retained his travel passport.
The arrest of Ajaero, who was on a trip to the United Kingdom for a Trade Union Congress (TUC) event, sparked widespread condemnation.
The NLC had demanded his release by Tuesday midnight and mobilized its affiliates and civil society allies in response to the arrest. Additionally, TUC, Amnesty International, and human rights activist Femi Falana criticized the Federal Government’s actions and called for Ajaero’s immediate release.
In late August, Ajaero had previously addressed allegations of terrorism financing, maintaining his innocence. He was also arrested in November last year in Imo State during a protest over unpaid workers’ salaries.
