The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Anambra State, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, has urged persons standing trial to take advantage of plea bargaining where they are satisfied that they are guilty of the offences for which they are charged.
Barrister Nweke cited the case of popular native doctor, Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as “Akwa Okuko tiwara aki,” as an example of the potential benefits of plea bargaining.
He explained that following a plea bargain agreement between Nwangwu and the Anambra State Government, the court imposed a lesser sentence on him.
According to the Attorney-General, the remorse demonstrated by Nwangwu, coupled with the short period remaining on his sentence, among other considerations, provided an opportunity for Governor Chukwuma Soludo to consider him for the prerogative of mercy.
Governor Soludo subsequently granted Nwangwu early release from the correctional centre by remitting the unserved portion of his prison term.
Nweke said the decision also enabled Nwangwu to immediately join the State Government’s campaign on youth reformation and reorientation, as agreed under the plea bargain arrangement.
The Attorney-General described the governor’s exercise of the prerogative of mercy as a remote benefit of the plea bargain, noting that the agreement had indirectly paved the way for the subsequent consideration of Nwangwu for early release.
He explained that plea bargaining could, in appropriate cases, result in non-custodial sentences for convicted persons, while those who receive custodial sentences could have their terms reduced.
He added that plea bargain arrangements could also provide for restitution or compensation to victims of offences.
Nweke said the Anambra State Government, under the administration of Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, remained committed to decongesting correctional centres and was mainstreaming plea bargaining as a tool for keeping more people out of custody where the circumstances of their cases permit.
The Attorney-General disclosed that since the Ministry of Justice launched its campaign on plea bargaining about two months ago, it had received approximately 150 applications, which were currently being considered.
