••• TRANSFERRED FROM POLICE HOSPITAL TO FMC, OWERRI
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, is in a critical state at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State.
The NLC said in an update to Labour Correspondents that the Labour Centre made contact with Labour Leader around 3:30 pm at the Police Hospital from where he was taken to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri for treatment.
The NLC said that Ajaero was thoroughly brutalized stressing that ‘his right eye at the time of contact was completely shut’
“Ajaero who said little stated that immediately after his arrest, he was beaten up and blind-folded and taken to an unknown destination where more brutalisation took place, sometimes with bottles.
“His phones, money and other personal effects were taken off him and have not been returned to him.
Congress President, Joe Ajaero has been referred for ophthalmic investigation, a head/brain scan, a full body scan, and cervical spine therapy among other investigations.
He is presently on a neck collar with weals all over his skin.
Meanwhile, the Imo State Police Command has denied arresting the NLC President
The Imo State Police Command’s Spokesperson, Mr Okoye Henry, said in a statement that the NLC President was only taken into custody to save his life.
The statement titled ‘WE NEVER ARRESTED NLC PRESIDENT’ reads
“The Imo State Police Command wishes to clarify some sketchy reports alleging the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, in Owerri.
“It is pertinent to state that the NLC President was in Owerri as part of arrangements of the Congress to mobilize workers for a mega protest rally in the state. In the course of their planning, it was reported that suggestions arose for the lockdown of some essential facilities particularly the airport which led to some workers and other individuals resisting the picketing process leading to scuffles and heated arguments and an eventual attack on the person of the president by a mob.
“Upon receiving this report, the Imo Police Command swiftly deployed police operatives to the scene where the Officer in Charge exercised his operational discretion by taking the NLC President into protective custody at the State Command Headquarters to ensure the protection of his life and that he was not lynched in the scuffle that followed. The Commissioner of Police thereafter directed that he should be taken to the Police Medical Services, Owerri, where he would be accorded medical attention as a result of the attack. He has therefore been accorded adequate security cover to proceed on his other legitimate engagements for the day.
“It is however necessary to emphasize the existence of a court injunction from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria holden in Owerri with Suit No. NICN/OW/41/2023 dated 27th October, 2023, barring the NLC from holding the intended protest rally in Owerri.
“The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Police Command, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, psc (+), therefore urges all concerned parties to ensure compliance with the Court directives so as to avoid jeopardizing the current security arrangements on Owerri and other parts of Imo State, even as the State gears up for the forthcoming electioneering process on 11th November 2023.”