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NLC: Ajaero is a law-abiding citizen — he didn’t shun DSS invitation

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says Joe Ajaero, its president, did not shun the invitation of the Department of State Services (DSS).

In a statement on Wednesday, Benson Upah, NLC spokesperson, said Ajaero is a law-abiding citizen, noting that it is not in his character to disregard invitations from law enforcement agencies.

THE ARREST

On Monday, Ajaero was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja while he was about to board a flight to the United Kingdom (UK).

The NLC spokesperson said Ajaero was going to the UK at Britain’s Trade Union Congress (TUC) invitation.

After the labour leader’s arrest, NLC alerted all its affiliates, state councils, and Nigerian workers to remain “vigilant and on high alert”.

The labour union also demanded his “unconditional” release before midnight. But the DSS released the NLC president on Monday night.

Ajaero was reportedly arrested for failing to honour a police invitation over a petition by Air Peace Airlines.

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Ajaero  was also said to have failed to honour an invitation by the DSS over an alleged case of extortion.

However, Omotade Makinwa, Air Peace spokesperson, said the police acted a year after the petition was withdrawn.

Amid the reactions trailing the arrest, the presidency said Ajaero is not above the law in Nigeria, adding that the NLC president failed to honour the summons of the law enforcement agencies.

AJAERO’S INTERACTION WITH DSS BEFORE ARREST’

Upah asked members of the public to “disregard” the report that Ajaero failed to honour the invitation of the DSS.

He added that the days before the arrest, the NLC president interacted with the DSS director-general on a courtesy visit.

“We would like to set the records straight as follows: In the days preceding his arrest, the congress president had a discussion with the DG DSS on a courtesy visit,” the statement reads.

“A director in the agency later called the general secretary of the congress on the need to fix a date for the courtesy visit.

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“The general secretary, however, explained to him that he would not be available until Friday (September 13). The said director assured him they would give congress leadership a notice of not less than 48 hours for the visit.

“The DG DSS last spoke with Comrade Ajaero on Saturday night, during which Ajaero told him he would be travelling the next day, Sunday, adding that the courtesy visit would be paid after his return on Friday, September 13.

“The congress president, however, missed his flight on Sunday and had it rescheduled to Monday, September 9th. It was on that Monday morning he was picked up by the operatives of the DSS in a watch list operation on behalf of a sister agency.

“We want to reaffirm that Joe Ajaero is a law-abiding citizen heading the biggest pan-Nigerian organisation with an illustrious history of patriotism and will certainly not snub the DSS.

“He is a trade unionist of international repute who serves on the executive boards of world federations of trade unions. His constituency goes beyond Nigeria.

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“It is not in his character to disregard invitations and precedents (his honouring the police invitation) attest to this.”

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JUST IN: FG declares October 1 as public holiday

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The Federal Government has declared Tuesday, October 1, as a public holiday to commemorate Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary.

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, announced the holiday on Saturday in a statement by Magdalene Ajani, permanent secretary in the ministry.

The minister praised patient and hardworking Nigerians, adding that their sacrifices would not be in vain.

More to follow…

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Good Morning! Here Are Some Major News Headlines In The Newspapers Today: Bobrisky scandal: We won’t spare indicted officials –Minister

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1. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday warned that officials of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) found culpable in the apartment-for-prison scandal involving notorious cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, a.k.a. Bobrisky, would not go unpunished. Tunji-Ojo, who spoke at a media briefing in Abuja to mark his one year in office, vowed that no personnel or officer of the Nigeria Correctional Service found involved in the ongoing probe would be spared.

 

2. Ahead of the resumption of flights to Nigeria by Emirates on October 1, the federal government has finalized an agreement with United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities to guarantee reciprocal rights for Nigerian airlines willing to start flying to any UAE cities, especially Dubai.

 

3. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arrested a former governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, over alleged fraud of N27 billion. He was reportedly picked up at his Abuja residence.

READ  Kidnappers release Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic students, staff almost one month after

 

4. President Bola Tinubu on Friday appointed seven executive directors for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

 

A press release signed by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said the president re-appointed Ayo Adewuyi as the Executive Director of News.

 

5. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday justified the increase in passport fees, stating that the rise was only about 45 percent. According to him, the increase was driven by the exchange rate between the dollar and the naira.

 

6. Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos State, on Friday, ordered the remand of four bloggers for allegedly cyberstalking and spreading false information aimed at insulting the Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company PLC, Segun Agbaje.

The bloggers, Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishu, and Seun Odunlami, were remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.

 

7. The Lagos State Police Command has summoned four of its officers to account for their alleged involvement in the extortion of N1 million from some National Youth Service Corps members.

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In an X post, a user tweeting as #YemieFash, identified as Olúyẹmí Fásípè, revealed that the corps members were threatened by the officers and later taken to the Kafaru Oluwole Tinubu House, Area C Police Command, where they were “robbed.”

 

8. The Lagos State Wastewater Management Office has sealed off the Orchid Shopping Centre in the Eti-Osa area of the state over a threat to public health.

 

This was disclosed in a statement shared on X.com by the state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, on Friday.

 

9. The House of Representatives has summoned the EFCC Chairman, the Nigerian Correctional Service Comptroller General, Bobrisky, VeryDarkMan, and all officers involved in the prosecution of Bobrisky.

 

This was contained in a letter written by the Lead Chairman of the joint committee, Jon Ginger Onwusibe, to parties on Friday over the disturbing allegations of corruption against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Correctional Service.

READ  El-Zakzaky sues AGF, DSS for N2bn over detention, seizure of passport

 

10. A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Chief Olusola Ebiseni and Dayo Awude as the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the Labour Party (LP) for the November 16 governorship election.

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CBN extends suspension of processing fees on deposits to March 2025

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has extended the suspension of processing fees on cash deposits for six months.

 

The development comes six days before the suspension date initially fixed, expires.

 

On May 1, banks resumed the collection of processing fees on cash deposits.

 

Six days later, CBN suspended charges on the deposits until September 30.

 

However, in a circular directed to all banks, other financial institutions and non-financial institutions, dated September 24, 2024, and signed by Adetona Adedeji, CBN’s director of banking supervision, the apex bank extended the date to March 31, 2025.

 

“Further to our letter dated May 6, 2024, referenced BSD/DIR/PUB/LAB/016/023, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) hereby extends the suspension of processing charges on cash deposits above N500,000 for individuals and N3,000,000 for corporates,” the apex bank said.

 

“The previous suspension, set to expire on September 30, 2024, has now been extended until March 31, 2025.

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“This suspension pertains to the 2% and 3% fees outlined in the ‘Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial Institutions and Non-Bank Financial Institutions, issued on December 20, 2019.”

 

CBN asked all financial institutions to continue accepting cash deposits from the public without any charges during the period.

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