A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Kolawole Olowookere, has petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, over an alleged move to arraign an Imo community leader, Chief Nwigwe Emeka Williams, on charges of kidnapping and terrorism.
In the petition, Olowookere urged the AGF to intervene by investigating the circumstances behind the planned arraignment, describing it as unjust and a misuse of prosecutorial powers.
The petition centers on the December 17, 2022, abduction and killing of Eze Basil Okafor, the traditional ruler of Amanze community in Imo State. Olowookere said the case was thoroughly investigated by the Special Tactical Squad (STS) of the Force Headquarters in Abuja, which identified and prosecuted the actual perpetrators, some of whom have since been convicted.
He stressed that Chief Williams was investigated twice by the police and cleared of any wrongdoing. Despite this, Olowookere expressed shock that nearly two years later, unnamed lawyers within the Federal Ministry of Justice have allegedly conspired—at the behest of external interests—to implicate the community leader in the crime.
The police investigation report dated September 30, 2024 (Ref: CB:4099/FID/STC/FHQ/ABJ/T.4/Vol.4/94), was attached to the petition. It confirmed that Chief Williams contributed N1 million to a N4 million ransom, which was paid through the account of one Charles Njoku, the younger brother of the late monarch. Olowookere argued that the payment was a communal effort to secure the monarch’s release and that Williams should be treated as a witness, not a suspect.
He accused those involved of weaponizing legal processes to settle personal scores and warned that such misuse of power undermines justice and public trust in law enforcement.
The senior lawyer appealed to the AGF to halt the impending arraignment scheduled for May 22 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, pending a thorough review of the case.
The petition was received and acknowledged by the Attorney General’s office on April 10, 2025
