The Anambra state ministry of justice in collaboration with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) has flagged off the Anambra state plea bargain plan to strengthen the criminal justice system through the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL).
Speaking at the event held on Wednesday at the Best Western Meloch hotel, Awka, appreciating ROLAC, Attorney General and commissioner for Justice, Dr. Obianuju Nwogu said that the reason of the flag off was to effectively and efficiently provide alternative mode of disposing of criminal cases which arose from the realization that no judicial system can afford the litigation of all criminal matters within its jurisdiction. While inaugurating the committee, Prof. Uju Nworgu called on the committee members to be innovative and think outside the box while urging them to emulate Lagos state committee.
Earlier, Director Special Project and Alternative Dispute Resolution of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, (NAU) Prof. kene Chinemelu Nwaorgu noted that the essence of plea bargain was where an accused person is alleged to have committed an offence and is taken to court and he admits, then the prosecution is bound under the principle of plea bargaining to accept the confession and reduce the terms of confession in order to save the agony of both trial and the victim.
State Project Coordinator, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption programme (ROLAC), Mrs. Josphine Onah stated that the partnership is to support a provision of plea bargain process that will implement the position of criminal justice law.
According to Onah, “the ROLAC rely on the Attorney General to ensure that the processes are being implemented. We have supported the mechanism and put structures in place to function optimally”.
Contributing, Controller of services Anambra state command, Pat Chukwuemeka said the plea bargain will benefit defendants to have a leeway in resolving their matters before court without having to spend part of their life in prison and also help decongest the prison. He added that it will reduce the amount of time spent in incarceration and also affect the number of awaiting cases in the centres.
In Edo state, training and key guidelines were developed with support from ROLAC in 2019, including a plea bargain manual and sentencing guidelines. Evidence shows that these new practices are positively influencing the sector, reports News Echo.