The Department of State Services (DSS) has returned the passport of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), following his recent detention.
Ajaero’s passport and phones were initially confiscated during his arrest at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday.
He was en route the United Kingdom to attend a Trade Union Congress conference in London when he was detained.
The Interviews Nigeria reports that after several hours in custody, Ajaero was granted bail.
The NLC has since accused the DSS of arresting Ajaero without a warrant, raising significant concerns and speculation about the legitimacy of his detention.
However, lawyers close to the NLC president told SaharaReporters that the DSS was later made to release Ajaero’s passport and mobile phones.
“They refused to release his passport and his phones but returned his phone last night after he refused to leave the DSS headquarters without his phones.
“This morning (Tuesday), they finally released his passport to him through his lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, from the Femi & Falana’s Chambers. They held back his passport because they did not want him to travel,” the source said.