The Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero, has narrated his ordeal in police custody after he was arrested in Owerri, Imo State.
Ajaero said he was beaten by the police and threatened with prosecution.
He also said that the police claimed they were acting on an interim order from the court, but he told them that such an order would expire within one or two weeks.
Speaking after he was released, Ajaero said the police threatened to drag him to court.
“If you say interim order, it elapses with time; if the court issues another one, then it’s a different thing. I told them interim order ends within one week or two; they now kept the letter and told me they can prosecute me.
“I told them it’s the same court that can institute a contempt charge; you just can’t start prosecuting me.
“They beat me; God must have taken extra time to create me because of the kind of beating I received,” he said.
Ajaero was arrested while in Owerri to mobilize Imo workers for a mega protest rally over an alleged violation and abuse of rights and privileges of workers by the state government. The violence that broke out during the rally led to men of the Nigeria Police Force whisking away Ajaero.
