Indigenous airline Air Peace has denied any involvement in the recent arrest and detention of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, by the Department of State Services (DSS). The airline issued a statement, signed by its spokesperson Omotade Makinwa, to address reports linking the company to Ajaero’s arrest, which have resulted in negative publicity.
The statement emphasized that the matter stems from an old petition filed by Air Peace in September 2023, following disruptions to its operations by the NLC. “Air Peace expresses deep concern over recent media reports suggesting our involvement in the NLC President’s arrest. This situation does not reflect the current relationship between Air Peace and the NLC,” the statement read.
The airline clarified that on May 3, 2023, the NLC had disrupted its operations as part of a broader conflict with the Imo State government. Although Air Peace was not directly involved in the dispute, its services were impacted, leading to significant financial losses and travel disruptions for passengers. In response, Air Peace’s legal team submitted a formal petition to the Nigerian Police.
However, Air Peace revealed that despite the original petition being filed over a year ago, the police only recently acted on it, leading to Ajaero’s arrest. The airline stressed that an amicable resolution had been reached with the NLC long before the arrest, and the petition had been withdrawn to restore a positive working relationship.
Ajaero, who was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, confirmed his release after being detained for about 15 hours. He also disclosed that his passport was confiscated during his detention.
