Anambra offers plea bargain to criminal suspects, excludes murder, kidnapping cases

By Vincent Ujumadu

AWKA — The Anambra State Government has introduced a plea bargain option for suspects undergoing criminal trial as part of efforts to accelerate the administration of justice and reduce delays in the prosecution of cases.

However, suspects standing trial for murder, rape, armed robbery and kidnapping are excluded from the initiative.

The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke (SAN), said the decision was in line with the provisions of Section 156 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State, 2022.

According to him, the move is aimed at mainstreaming plea bargaining in the state’s criminal justice system and ensuring more efficient case management.

“It has become necessary to operationalise and mainstream plea bargain in the administration of criminal justice in Anambra State in furtherance of the provisions of Section 156 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State, 2022,” Nweke said.

He directed prosecuting counsel and officers to issue plea bargain forms to eligible defendants and inform them of the option to enter into a plea bargain.

The Attorney-General said completed forms should be submitted to the Ministry of Justice for consideration.

He further directed that any criminal charge filed without complying with the new directive could be deemed to have been instituted contrary to the policy and may be discontinued.

Nweke added that all plea bargain agreements must form part of the prosecution process and be endorsed by the head of the legal department of the prosecuting agency or, where applicable, by the Attorney-General if the matter is being handled by law officers in the Ministry of Justice.

Commenting on the development, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Media, Dr. Ebuka Onyekwelu, said the initiative aligns with the administration’s judicial reform agenda aimed at ensuring speedy dispensation of justice.

He said Governor Soludo had pledged in his manifesto to work closely with the legislature and judiciary to improve the efficiency of the justice system.

According to him, the government’s Solution Agenda also commits to collaborating with the judiciary to strengthen and modernise judicial processes across the state.

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