The Department of State Services (DSS) has finally released the seized passport and mobile phones of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.

It can be recalled that the Labour leader was on Monday arrested and detained, prompting calls for his release.

Ajaero was eventually released Monday evening.

According to sources close to Ajaero, the DSS was forced to return his passport and mobile phones after initially refusing to do so.

“They refused to release his passport and initially 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 revealed.

Ajaero’s lawyer, Marshal Abubakar from Femi & Falana’s Chambers, received the passport on Tuesday morning.

Ajaero was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while en route to the United Kingdom for a Trade Union Congress conference in London.

His detention led to widespread condemnations from labour unions, human rights groups and Nigerians.

Meanwhile, the NLC had scheduled a meeting for Tuesday to address Ajaero’s detention but postponed it, awaiting his return.

“NLC has suspended a meeting meant to address his detention scheduled for 9 am. They are waiting for Joe Ajaero (himself) to call for a meeting to decide the next steps the congress will take regarding the harassment and intimidation of their leader,” a union leader said.