Brazil's chief prosecutor recommended Thursday the Supreme Court annul President Dilma Rousseff's appointment of her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as cabinet chief, concluding it was an attempt to avoid his arrest.

"There is sufficient evidence to state that there was a deviation of purpose in the presidential decree" naming Lula as chief of staff, said Prosecutor General Rodrigo Janot.

Lula's controversial appointment, which has been temporarily blocked by a Supreme Court judge, would give the former president ministerial immunity from trial in criminal court on charges related to a massive corruption scandal at state oil company Petrobras.