Lagos, Nov. 1, 2023 – Femi Falana, a Lagos lawyer, has advised the Inspector General of Police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged arrest and brutalisation of Joe Ajaero, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday.
The NLC, on Wednesday afternoon, raised the alarm that its president was arrested by the police and taken to unknown destination in Owerri.
It reported later that Ajaero had been found, but in hospital over alleged torture and brutalization.
The Imo Command of Police Force, however, denied any involvement in the alleged arrest and torture of Ajaero.
Falana said the explanation by the police was unsatisfactory, wondering why they failed to arrest the miscreants they claimed attacked the NLC President.
“The police version of the brutalisation of the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajero is full of loopholes.
“Why did the police allow Comrade Ajaero to be brutalized by the so-called miscreants? In other words, why did the police not protect him from the violent attack?
“So, the police who witnessed the attack without making any arrest suddenly turned round to take the victim to the police clinic. The members of the public who decried the barbaric attack took pictures, which exposed the misleading version of the police.
“It is disturbing that the police justified the action of the so-called miscreants by saying that Comrade Ajero has disobeyed the order of a court. Why did the police not allow the court to purge Comrade Ajero of contempt of court?
“We call on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate and ensure that the police officers who brutalized the NLC President are prosecuted without any delay.” (GBN)
