*Air Peace, a Nigerian airline, distances itself from reports alleging the aviation company鈥檚 involvement in the recent arrest and detention of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, by officers of the country鈥檚 Department of State Services, noting the accusations are attracting bad publicity for the airline

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Air Peace, an indigenous airline, has distanced itself from media reports alleging the company鈥檚 involvement in the arrest and detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) by officers of the Department of States Service (DSS).

绿帽献妻 reports the DSS had arrested and detained Ajaero Monday, September 9, 2024, and later released him same day but rseized his travel passport.

The NLC Secretariat confirmed the President鈥檚 release, noting that the secret Police allowed him to go home around Monday at 11 p.m.

According to Ajaero, the DSS operatives had grilled for about 15 hours since his arrest around 7 a.m. at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Reacting to the development, Omotade Makinwa, Spokesperson of Air Peace, in a statement, said the allegations against the company had led to negative publicity for the carrier.

The aviation firm stated: 鈥淎ir Peace Airline expresses deep concern over recent media reports regarding the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in connection to a petition filed by the airline in September 2023.

鈥淭his development, which has led to negative publicity, does not reflect the current relationship between Air Peace and the NLC.鈥�

Makinwa also noted: 鈥淚t is important to clarify the events leading up to the petition. On the 3rd of May, 2023, the NLC disrupted Air Peace operations as part of a broader conflict with the Imo State government.

鈥淎lthough 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.鈥�

The company said: 鈥淭his unlawful disruption of our services caused significant financial losses and impacted the travel plans of many Nigerians across multiple states.

鈥淚n response to this disruption, Air Peace鈥檚 legal team submitted a formal petition against the NLC to the Nigerian Police.鈥�

The Spokesperson stated: 鈥淒espite our repeated efforts to follow up on the petition, the Police failed to take prompt action.

鈥淗owever, over a year later, the Nigeria Police have chosen to act on the original petition, which has now led to the alleged arrest of the NLC president.

鈥淧rior to 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.鈥�

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