A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Kolawole Olowookere, has filed a petition with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, challenging an alleged attempt to arraign a community leader on terrorism and kidnapping charges despite previous police investigations clearing him of involvement.

The petition concerns Chief Nwigwe Emeka Williams, who is reportedly being prepared for arraignment before a Federal High Court in Abuja on May 22, 2025, in connection with the December 17, 2022 kidnapping and killing of Eze Basil Okafor, the traditional ruler of Amanze community in Imo State.

According to the petition, the Special Tactical Squad (STS) of the Force Headquarters in Abuja had thoroughly investigated the case twice, with both investigations concluding that Chief Williams was not culpable. The petition highlighted that those actually indicted in the crime had already been arrested, prosecuted, and some jailed.

"The senior lawyer expressed surprise that two years after those indicted in the alleged crime had been put on trial, some lawyers in the Federal Ministry of Justice, allegedly acting the script of external forces, suddenly woke up to rope the community leader into the charges," the petition stated.

Olowookere attached a police investigation report dated September 30, 2024, with reference number CB;4099/FID/STC/FHQ/ABJ/T.4/Vol.4/94, which listed the suspects arrested, indicted, and put on trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja in charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/575/2023.

The report revealed that Chief Williams had contributed N1 million out of the N4 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers, with the contribution made through the account of Charles Njoku, the younger brother of the late traditional ruler. The senior advocate argued that this contribution was made to secure the release of the traditional ruler, not as part of the criminal conspiracy.

In his petition, Olowookere contended that instead of using the community leader as a witness in the trial, those involved were attempting to include his name as a defendant to settle personal scores, which he described as an abuse of prosecutorial powers.

The SAN has urged the Attorney General to investigate the circumstances leading to the inclusion of Chief Williams as a co-defendant before the scheduled May 22 arraignment date. The petition was reportedly received and acknowledged by the Attorney General's office on April 10, 2025.

As of the time of this report, there has been no official response from the Office of the Attorney General regarding the petition.