The Ajaero Arrest: Blackout looms as electricity workers threaten to go on strike Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has placed its members on strike alert following the arrest of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), by the Department of State Services (DSS).

In a statement released on Monday, NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Igwebike Dominic, called for Ajaero’s immediate and unconditional release. The union expressed concern over the treatment of Nigerian citizens, stating: “Nigeria is our collective country; our leaders should not make us live like slaves, unable to express ourselves.”

The arrest occurred at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as Ajaero was en route to attend the Trade Union Congress (TUC) UK conference.

In response, the NLC has issued a red alert to its affiliate unions, warning of potential nationwide strikes and protests if Ajaero is not freed without harm.

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has placed its members on strike alert following the arrest of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), by the Department of State Services (DSS).

In a statement released on Monday, NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Igwebike Dominic, called for Ajaero’s immediate and unconditional release.

The union expressed concern over the treatment of Nigerian citizens, stating:

“Nigeria is our collective country; our leaders should not make us live like slaves, unable to express ourselves.

”The arrest occurred at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as Ajaero was en route to attend the Trade Union Congress (TUC) UK conference. In response, the NLC has issued a red alert to its affiliate unions, warning of potential nationwide strikes and protests if Ajaero is not freed without harm.

Augustine Eguavoen started his fourth stint with the Super Eagles on a fabulous note, with the three-time African kings decimating Benin Republic’s Cheetahs 3-0 in Uyo on Saturday. The 58-year-old intends to continue along the win-and-smile path when Nigeria confront Rwanda at the Amahoro National Stadium, Kigali on Tuesday afternoon.

“We play to win all the time, because Nigerians expect their team to win all the time. And because we have a team with great personnel, we play every team with respect but we don’t get intimidated by any.

“Our objective for Tuesday’s game is the three points.”

Team captain William Ekong, speaking at the pre-match post conference at the Amahoro Stadium on Monday, just before the Eagles’ official training, echoed the tactician: “We are here for a purpose. With Coach Eguavoen, who has coached the team before, we all feel like a family. We will play for each other and go for the three points that will establish us at the top of the table.”

Table-toppers Nigeria, still basking in the great-feel of their 3-0 defeat of the Cheetahs, take on the Amavubi (Wasps) at the refurbished 45,000-capacity facility in the heart of Kigali in a Matchday 2 encounter of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, from 2pm Nigeria time.

Tuesday’s encounter is the first of four battles between the Eagles and the Amavubi in the next 12 months, with the two teams to clash in November in Nigeria in the final round of this qualifying race, and then do a home-and-away in the 2025 FIFA World Cup race with the Wasps also hosting Nigeria first in March next year.

Coach Torsten Spittler, a German, has roused the country of 13 million people to believe that the Amavubi can torpedo Nigeria, Libya and Benin Republic, and earn their first ticket to the Africa Cup of Nations since 2004. He flaunts an impressive record though, having led the team to win three of their last eight matches, drawing four and losing one.

Spittler intends to set defenders Claude Niyomugabo, Fitina Omborenga, Ange Mutsinzi, Jean Claude Niyomugabo and Christian Ishimwe against Nigeria’s twin-terrors Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen, who both concocted the three goals that deflated the Cheetahs in Uyo.

In the midfield, Olivier Niyonzima, Bonheur Mugisha and Jean Bosco Rubineka can prove a handful on their day, and at the fore, Spittler has implicit confidence in Gilbert Mugisha, Bienvenu Mugenzi and Innocent Nshuti, who got the team’s equalizer against Libya in Tripoli last week.

Eguavoen confirmed on Monday that all 23 players in the Nigeria team abode at the Radisson Blu are fit and ready, meaning that goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali should be expected to start, alongside captain Ekong, Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey at the heart of defence, while Olaoluwa Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi will be wingbacks.

Wilfred Ndidi will possibly anchor the midfield that will have Alex Iwobi or Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, while Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface and Samuel Chukwueze could still start at the fore.

A group of residents from Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, has filed a lawsuit against the Lagos state government, demanding details of the $100 million payment allegedly made by Aliko Dangote to acquire the land used for his refinery.

They also allege that only $1.4 million is reflected in the state’s account, leaving $98.6 million unaccounted for.

The residents, under the Ibeju-Lekki People’s Forum, claim that Dangote’s statement in July that he paid $100 million for the 7,000 acres of land contradicts the belief that the land was given to him for free.

The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, names Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos state attorney-general, the accountant-general, and the permanent secretary of the lands bureau as respondents.

The residents allege, in the affidavits attached to the suit, that “about 48 communities affected by the allocation (of the 7,000 acres) on the coastal line of Ibeju-Lekki were displaced by the activities of Dangote and his company and the subsequent destruction of their means of livelihood”.

They claim that despite Dangote’s statement, the state government has failed to respond to the allegation or provide proof of the payment.

However, in the suit filed, the forum and De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, are asking the court to compel the Lagos state government to give an account of the $100 million payment.

The deponent, Yakubu Eleto, youth leader and leader adviser to the first and second applicants, also revealed in the affidavit that former Lagos State governor, Babajide Fashola, had announced at a gathering of traditional rulers in Ibeju-Lekki that the land was gifted to Dangote.

This, Eleto claimed, led to the affected communities accepting the land allocation as a swap for development.

“He said the land where Dangote refinery is sitting on today was gifted to him by the Lagos State Government, and that if Ibeju-Lekki indigenes aren’t careful, the project will be taken to another part of the state like Badagry,” Eleto said.

“That pursuant to the above address by the then Executive Governor, the indigenes of the community accepted the plea of the government by maintaining peace and taking the 7000 Acres of land allocated to Dangote as a swap for development.”

The applicants, however, noted that they were surprised at Dangote’s claim of purchasing the land, noting that despite the alleged purchase, the affected communities continue to lack basic social amenities, electricity, pipe-borne water, good roads, schools, and employment, while also facing significant environmental threats.

“That till the time of filling this suit, the office of the 1st Respondents acting for the remainder of the respondents refused to respond to Applicants’ correspondence.

“That there are speculations from some quarters that only $1,400,000 that reflected on the account of the 5th Respondents concerning the said transaction and up till now, the applicants are yet to know where the remaining 98,600,000:00USD are being kept.

“That all efforts to get a copy of the full information on the alleged claim of purchase of about 7000 acres of land proved futile despite persistent demand for the documents showing the inflow of the money to the 5th respondent’s account.”

They argue that despite repeated demands, the Lagos State government has neither honoured their letter nor obliged them with a copy of full information on the alleged claim of purchase of about 7000 acres of land despite our demands.

The applicants, however, prayed to the court to compel the respondents “to immediately furnish or make the information on the alleged claim of purchase of about 7000 acres of land available to the applicants through the applicant’s solicitors forthwith.”

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to order the Department of State Services (DSS) to end the attack against it.

SERAP made the appeal to President Tinubu in a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare following the invasion of the organisation’s office in Abuja on Monday.

“Some officers from DSS today invaded our Abuja office. A tall, large, dark-skinned woman entered our office, accompanied by a slim, dark-skinned man. Other officers were sighted in two unmarked vehicles stationed outside our office. The officers who interrogated our office requested to see our directors,” Oluwadare said.

“The invasion of SERAP’s office followed our call on Tinubu and his government to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the apparently illegal and unconstitutional increase in the pump price of petrol and to ensure the prompt and thorough investigation of alleged corruption and mismanagement in the NNPCL.

“We condemn the invasion of our Abuja office today by Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS). The Tinubu administration must immediately direct the DSS to end the intimidation and harassment of SERAP and our staff members.”

Oluwadare added in the statement: “The invasion of SERAP’s office by the DSS and the harassment and intimidation of our staff members is a brutal assault on the entire human rights community in the country.

“The escalating crackdown on human rights, and harassment and intimidation of NGOs and human rights defenders that have shown astonishing courage in their human rights work hurt those most in need, undermine access of Nigerian victims of human rights violations and abuses to justice, and contribute to a culture of impunity of perpetrators.

“This government has an obligation to support and protect civil society groups and human rights defenders. We are seriously concerned about the growing restrictions on civic space and the brutal crackdown on the human rights of Nigerians.

“President Tinubu must urgently instruct appropriate authorities to promptly and thoroughly investigate the invasion of our offices and to bring to justice those involved.

“Nigerian authorities must allow SERAP to freely carry out our mandates as recognized under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.

“Nigerian authorities must end the harassment and intimidation attacks against SERAP and ensure the safety and security of our staff.”

He stressed that if the Tinubu government does not take all necessary measures to immediately end the intimidation and harassment of SERAP or any other civil society group for that matter, SERAP will to take appropriate legal action nationally and internationally to challenge the brutal crackdown and hold the authorities to account for their constitutional and international human rights obligations.

Oluwadare said that SERAP will continue to work to challenge any attempt to restrict, silence or eliminate the voices of credible civil society in the country and urged the presidency to speak out strongly against the intimidation and harassment of SERAP and its staff

“Under the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and international human rights law, everyone whose rights are violated is entitled to a right to an effective remedy,” he said.

“Exposing human rights violations and seeking redress for them is largely dependent on the degree of security enjoyed by civil society groups and human rights defenders.”

Oluwadare said while some may not like to hear some of the things SERAP has said, this in no way justifies the invasion of its office and harassment and intimidation of its staff members.

He has also urged the authorities to show commitment to protecting the right to freedom of expression and guarantee conditions for the civil society to flourish.

Human rights lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, meanwhile, said: “We condemn the invasion of SERAP’s office. The Tinubu government must urgently fish out the officers who carried out the invasion of SERAP’s office in the name of the government.

“Anyone found to be responsible for the invasion must be prosecuted. The government must allow human rights defenders to freely carry out their work, consistent with the Nigerian Constitution.”

The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has announced that all tickets for the 2027 general election are open to all qualified Nigerians.

The fraction made the statement after a national executive committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday.

The faction said the party’s presidential and governorship tickets are not reserved for any individuals, contrary to earlier reports.

This development comes after some Labour Party leaders, including Obi and Otti, as well as some elected Senators and House of Representatives members, met in Umuahia, Abia State, last week to form a 29-man caretaker committee to lead the party in the interim.

The Committee, which is to be chaired by former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, will midwife an election of new leadership in 90 days.

However, in a communiqué signed by Abure, and National Secretary, Umar Ibrahim, the NEC nullified the decision taken at the stakeholders meeting convened by Otti in Umuahia.

The Julius Abure-led faction also claimed Otti lacked the authority to call such a meeting, citing Article 14 (4) (B) of the party’s constitution.

The communiqué read, “NEC in session also reviewed the decision of the National Convention to reserve its Presidential and Governorship tickets for Peter Gregory Obi and Alex Otti respectively,

“Consequently, all tickets of the party from Presidency to the House of assemblies are open to all qualified Nigerians.

“The NEC in session noted that the Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Alex Otti, who convened the meeting, did not have the power within the Party’s Constitution as provided in Article 14 (4) (B) gives power to call meetings only to the National Secretary with the approval of the National Chairman,” it reads.

“NEC in session further reiterates that the Governor of Abia State does not even have the power to call his Ward Executive meeting without the approval and the consent of his Ward Chairman.

“The meeting contravenes the provisions of Section 82 (1) (2) (a) of the Electoral Act 2022 which provides as follows; 82 (1) Every registered political party shall give the Commission at least 21 days’ notice of any Convention, Congress, Conference or meeting convened for the purpose of ‘merger’ and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this act.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of its President, Joe Ajaero.

The spokesman of NLC, Benson Upah in a statement demanded the release of Ajaero following his arrest by the Department of State for Security (DSS) on Monday morning.

“This morning, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, was seized and whisked away by agents of the Nigerian State while on his way to the United Kingdom on the invitation of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain,” Upah said.

“Comrade Ajaero was set to attend and address the global gathering of workers on behalf of Nigerian workers at the Congress of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the UK, a platform where critical discussions on workers’ rights, social justice and economic fairness are discussed.

“We are yet to ascertain his whereabouts or his state of health as all efforts we have made to get in touch with him have proved abortive.

“We wish to categorically state that Comrade Ajaero has been detained without any legal warrant or formal instrument. Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive.

“His detention is therefore a brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation as he has not been declared wanted by any law enforcement body. His detention is a brazen act of intimidation and completely unjustified under the laws of our nation.

“The mere contemplation of not just stopping a lawful citizen from travelling but also sequestering his freedom is an affront to our democratic and natural rights as a people and as workers.

“This is an unmistakable demonstration of the height of lawlessness being perpetuated by the Nigerian government and its agencies in their bid to silence every voice of dissent and opposition in the country as the economic policies of the government continues to afflict the people with monumental suffering and hardship.

“Such actions are not only undemocratic but immoral as well as a direct affront to the fundamental rights of citizens and organizations to lawfully express their views and carry out their activities.

“In light of this troubling development, the Congress puts all its affiliates, State Councils, Civil society allies and all patriotic Nigerians on the highest state of alert.

“The Congress will not stand idly by while the rights of its leaders and members are trampled upon. Accordingly, we demand for the immediate and unconditional release of comrade Ajaero.

“Furthermore, we call on the international community, human rights organizations, and all advocates of democracy to take note of this rising wave of authoritarianism in Nigeria. The world must bear witness to these assaults on human dignity, civil liberties, and the rule of law.

“The NLC remains resolute in its commitment to protecting workers’ rights and will not be cowed by the oppressive tactics of the state. Once again, we demand the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero and the cessation of all forms of harassment against labour leaders and the Nigerian working class including innocent citizens who hold dissenting opinions.

“We equally demand that the state frees all Nigerians languishing in various prisons around the country for exercising their democratic rights to protest in the #EndBadGovernance rallies around the country.

“Finally, the organs of the congress are in a closed door meeting whose outcome will be made available to the public.”

Upah had earlier confirmed Ajaero’s arrest in an interview with Channels Television. He said the DSS operatives arrested Ajaero at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.