The Department of State Services (DSS) says its operatives did not unlawfully invade the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) office in Abuja.

On Monday, SERAP said the DSS agents were “unlawfully occupying” its office in Abuja, adding that they had demanded to see its directors.

The group had asked President Bola Tinubu to direct the DSS to end the harassment, intimidation, and attack on the rights of Nigerians.

In a statement on Tuesday, the DSS said its operatives were lawfully detailed on routine investigation to the SERAP office in Abuja.

The secret police said they have been inundated with multiple enquiries on what transpired.

“This narrative is inaccurate and misleading in its intent,” the statement reads.

“For the records, a team of two (2) unarmed Service operatives were lawfully detailed on routine investigation to SERAP office in Abuja, which has sadly been skewed and misinterpreted as unlawful, harassment and intimidation of SERAP officials.

“The Service further wishes to state that such official enquiries and liaison are traditional and does not in any way amount to illegality or raid.

“While it assures of in-depth investigation of these malicious contents, it sues for citizens’ participation in national security management.”

The DSS asked the public to disregard “false narratives”, restating its commitment to professionalism in discharging its core mandate with utmost dedication and integrity.

Air Peace, Nigeria’s flag carrier, has corroborated TheCable’s report that Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), was arrested over a petition by the airline in 2023.

On Monday, Ajaero was arrested by security operatives suspected to be personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Following his arrest, sources told TheCable that the arrest was due to his failure to honour police invitation over a petition by Air Peace.

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

In a statement on Monday by Omotade Makinwa, Air Peace spokesperson, the airline said the police acted on the petition a year after it was withdrawn.

“Air Peace Airline expresses deep concern over recent media reports regarding the arrest of the President of the NLC in connection to a petition filed by the airline in September 2023,” the company said.

“This development, which has led to negative publicity, does not reflect the current relationship between Air Peace and the NLC.

“It is important to clarify the events leading up to the petition. On May 3, 2023, the NLC disrupted Air Peace operations as part of a broader conflict with the Imo State government.

“Although Air Peace had no involvement in the dispute between the NLC and the Imo State government, our airline was unfortunately used as a tool to exert pressure on the government.

“This unlawful disruption of our services caused significant financial losses and impacted the travel plans of many Nigerians across multiple states.

“In response to this disruption, Air Peace’s legal team submitted a formal petition against the NLC to the Nigerian Police. Despite our repeated efforts to follow up on the petition, the Police failed to take prompt action.”

However, Makinwa said, over a year later, the police have chosen to act on the original petition, “which has now led to the alleged arrest of the NLC president”.

“Before this arrest, the airline and the NLC had already reached an amicable resolution, and Air Peace had withdrawn its petition, allowing a positive working relationship to resume between the two organisations,” he added.

On August 19, the police invited Ajaero for questioning over “a case of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime”.

The Department of State Services has granted administrative bail to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero.

Pro-democracy activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, announced his release in a tweet on Monday night.

“BREAKING: The fascist regime of @officialABAT has released the @NLCHeadquarters President Joe Ajaero from @OfficialDSSNG custody on bail,” he wrote on X.com.

Ajaero was arrested Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, while on his way to the United Kingdom for an official engagement.

Numerous organisations, civil society groups, activists and prominent individuals denounced Ajaero’s arrest and demanded his immediate release.

The NLC condemned the arrest and called for his prompt and unconditional release.

In a statement issued on Monday evening, the NLC’s National Administrative Council, led by Deputy President, Adeyanju Adewale, described Ajaero’s detention as “brazen and illegal” and a clear violation of workers’ rights and democratic values.

The council issued an ultimatum, calling for Ajaero’s release by midnight on Monday.