The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says Joe Ajaero, its president, will undergo a medical checkup after his release from detention by the Department of State Services (DSS).

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

Benson Upah, 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 12 midnight. But the DSS released the NLC president on Monday night.

In a statement on Tuesday, the NLC expressed appreciation to Nigerians, civil society organisations (CSOs), affiliates, and the international community for their support during Ajaero’s detention.

The congress also announced the suspension of its national executive council (NEC) meeting called to assess the situation and determine the next steps in its collective struggle.

“Ajaero’s release came after intense pressure from the NLC and compliance with the demands of the National Administrative Council, NAC,” the statement reads.

“The NLC remains vigilant and will conduct medical checks to ensure Ajaero’s health has not been compromised.

“The NLC condemned the arrest and detention as a reckless abuse of power and reaffirmed its commitment to standing against oppression, intimidation, and lawlessness.

“The organization views the attack on its leadership as an assault on the fundamental rights of all Nigerian workers and citizens.

“The NLC demands the release of citizens detained for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest, an end to the clampdown on popular voices, and the reversal of hikes in petrol and electricity tariffs.”

The federal high court (FHC) has commenced electronic affidavit (e-affidavit) for the benefit of litigants and other users.

In June, John Tsoho, FHC chief judge, introduced the e-affidavits into the court’s practice directions in line with global best practices.

During a facility inspection on Friday, Godwin Longe, deputy chief registrar of the Lagos federal high court, said the new technology can only process affidavits that are non-cases related.

“Affidavits filed to support a case are still done manually because of the peculiar disposition in such affidavits,” Longe said.

He emphasised that with the online system, people do not “necessarily have to be physically present to procure the type of affidavits mentioned above”.

Agwu Charles, head of the court’s ICT department, explained how the public can use the innovation.

“It is now a norm that the affidavit for loss of items, age declaration, change of name, etc can now be done via portal.fhc.gov.ng and following the instructors,” he said.

“What you just need to do is to log in to the site: portal.fhc.gov.ng.”

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.