BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA—AN Onitsha based transporter and businessman, Chief Michael Emerah, has sent a Save-Our-Soul message to President Goodluck Jonathan over alleged oppression by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN.

Emerah, who is the chairman and managing director of Micmerah Group of Companies, said failure of the President to intervene in the matter might ruin his business and life.

In the petition, Emerah accused the AGF of withdrawing a criminal charge in suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/122/2008 between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Mikky Dons Nigeria Ltd. and 16 others in which he (Emerah) had interest.

He lamented that he had invested over N4 billion, including accrued interest, in the transaction that necessitated the court matter before the AGF withdrew the matter.

The petition read in part: “I wish to formally bring to Your Excellency’s knowledge, the actions of the Honourable Attorney General and Minster of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke.

“The AGF withdrew the above charge pending before Honourable Justice B.F.M Nyako of Federal High Court, Lagos without recourse to its implications to the parties involved.”

He explained that he had a business deal with the Nigeria International Bank Limited (a.k.a Citibank) in which he invested about N500 million, but was allegedly defrauded by the bank.

According to him, the bank and its officers were charged to court after the police had investigated and concluded that they had a criminal case to answer, which he said, was also confirmed by the Attorney General himself.

He regretted that in the middle of the matter, the Minister withdrew the matter without consulting him or his lawyers.

Accusing the AGF of being compromised in the matter, Emerah pleaded with President Jonathan to intervene and order the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to re-fill the said charge and re-issue the fiat to his lawyer to continue with the case in the court, saying he had no confidence in the handling of the case by the Ministry of Justice anymore.

He said if this could happen to a citizen of Nigeria from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, who is the number one law officer of the federation, the confidence of the people in the judiciary will wane.

He said further: “Indeed the court is the proper place to canvass our grievances and the last hope of the common man in Nigeria.

“The determination of the case on its merit in view of the fact that it was withdrawn in bad faith by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) without looking at the Rule of Law which is one of the slogans of this administration.”