OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR INFORMATION & VALUE REFORMATIONANAMBRA STATE
Early Release of Akwa Okuko By the Governor, a Remote Benefit of Plea Bargain – AG Anambra
The Attorney General of Anambra State, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, has called on persons standing trial to utilize the benefit of plea bargain when they are satisfied that they are guilty of the offence for which they are charged, citing the case of Chidozie Nwangwu (Akwa Okuko) as a case study.
Based on the plea bargain between Akwa Okuko and the State Government, he was given a lesser sentence by the court. According to the Attorney General, the remorse shown by him, the short length of his remaining sentence, among others, presented an opportunity for the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, to consider him worthy of prerogative of mercy.
The Governor granted him early release from the Correctional Centre by remitting the remaining unserved portion of his term of imprisonment to also enable him to immediately join the State on the campaign on youth reformation and re-orientation as agreed under the plea bargain agreement. The Attorney General stated that the plea bargain indirectly paved the way for the prerogative of mercy and described the prerogative as a remote benefit of the plea bargain.
The Attorney General emphasized that under plea bargain, some suspects, when convicted, have the opportunity of getting non-custodial sentences while those getting custodial sentences have the opportunity of getting shorter terms of imprisonment, while also providing restitution/compensation for the victim of the offence. The Attorney General noted that the State Government under the administration of Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo is committed to decongestion of correctional centers and is mainstreaming plea bargain as a tool to keep more people out of custody.
The Attorney General noted that since the Ministry of Justice launched a campaign on plea bargain two months ago, about 150 applications for plea bargain have already been received by his office and are being considered.
Law Mefor, PhD
Commissioner for Information & Value Reformation
Anambra State
