Air Peace Rejects Any Role in NLC President’s Arrest

Native airline Air Peace has refuted claims that it was involved in the arrest and incarceration of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero by Department of State Service (DSS) officers.

According to a statement from Air Peace spokesperson Omotade Makinwa, the accusations had damaged the company’s reputation.

In reference to a plea the airline filed in September 2023, the statement stated, “Air Peace Airline expresses deep concern over recent media reports regarding the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).” The existing connection between Air Peace and the NLC is not reflected in this development, which has resulted in unfavorable press.

“It’s critical to make clear what happened before the petition. The NLC interfered with Air Peace operations on May 3, 2023, as part of a larger dispute with the Imo State government. Air Peace was regrettably utilized as a means of applying pressure on the government, notwithstanding our airline’s lack of involvement in the conflict between the NLC and the Imo State government. This illegal interruption of our services resulted in large financial losses and affected numerous Nigerians’ travel schedules in several states.

“Air Peace’s legal team filed an official petition against the NLC with the Nigerian Police in reaction to this disturbance. The Police did not act promptly in spite of our continuous attempts to follow up on the petition.

But more than a year later, the Nigerian Police decided to follow through on the initial petition, which is now purportedly what led to the NLC president’s arrest. An amicable settlement had already been achieved between the airline and the NLC prior to this arrest, and Air Peace had withdrawn its petition, enabling the two groups to resume their productive working relationship.

Ajaero was freed the same day after being taken into custody by the DSS on Monday.

Ajaero told our correspondent that he was free and that he was able to return home on Monday night at around 11 p.m., according to the secret police.

After being arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at around 7 am, the head of the Nigeria Labour Congress claimed he had been interrogated for roughly 15 hours.

However, Ajaero claimed that the secret police had confiscated his travel passport.