By Chinelo Okeke
Anambra State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, has urged Ndi Anambra facing criminal trials to consider plea bargaining as a viable option for the timely resolution of their cases.
Nweke made the call during an interactive session with media personnel at his chambers at the Ministry of Justice, Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka.
The Attorney General explained that plea bargaining is a legal process through which a defendant pleads guilty to a charge in exchange for certain concessions by the prosecution. Such concessions may include the withdrawal of some counts or the reduction of a charge to a lesser offence, subject to the provisions of the law.
He further explained that, in appropriate circumstances, a defendant may plead guilty to an offence while the State agrees to a lesser sentence, where such an arrangement is legally permissible. He noted that, depending on the nature and circumstances of the offence and the applicable law, a sentence that could attract 10 years may, for instance, be reduced to two years through a lawful plea agreement.
Barr. Nweke stressed that plea bargaining provides defendants with an opportunity to bring their cases to an early conclusion while securing the least sentence permissible under the law.
According to him, the process also saves valuable time and reduces the risks and uncertainties associated with prolonged trials, enabling defendants to have greater certainty about the outcome of their cases. He noted that rather than spending several months or years in court while facing an uncertain outcome and the possibility of a lengthy sentence, defendants may consider plea bargaining where it is legally appropriate.
The commissioner also highlighted the role of plea bargaining in facilitating compensation and restitution for victims. He explained that agreements reached under the process could provide for appropriate restitution, particularly in cases involving stolen or fraudulently obtained funds, in accordance with the law.
Barr. Nweke therefore urged families of defendants, police officers, prosecutors and legal practitioners to sensitise accused persons on the importance and potential benefits of plea bargaining.
He said the process would not only help to decongest correctional centres but would also contribute significantly to the ongoing reforms in the justice sector in Anambra State.
Chinelo Okeke is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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