By Christian Aburime
The Attorney General of Anambra State, Mr. Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, has revealed that the early release of inmate Chidozie Nwangwu, aka Akwa Okuko, resulted from a combination of plea bargain proceedings and the Governor’s prerogative of mercy.
While speaking on Friday, Nweke encouraged inmates currently standing trial in the state to consider plea bargain arrangements where they are satisfied of their guilt regarding the offences charged against them. He cited Nwangwu’s case as an instructive example of the process.
According to the Attorney General, the remorse demonstrated by Nwangwu, coupled with the relatively short length of his remaining sentence, created conditions that made him suitable for executive clemency. The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, subsequently approved his release from the Correctional Centre, remitting the unserved portion of his imprisonment term.
“The plea bargain indirectly paved the way for the prerogative of mercy, which we describe as a remote benefit of the plea bargain arrangement,” Nweke stated.
Nweke further explained that under plea bargain agreements, convicted suspects may receive non-custodial sentences, while those receiving prison terms benefit from reduced incarceration periods.
The arrangement also typically requires restitution or compensation to victims of the alleged offences.
“As agreed under the plea bargain agreement, the early release of Akwa Okuko enables him to immediately join the State on the campaign on youth reformation and re-orientation,” the Attorney General said.
He noted that the Soludo administration prioritises decongesting correctional centres and is systematically mainstreaming plea bargain as a judicial tool to reduce pre-trial detention and overcrowding.
Since the State Ministry of Justice launched a public awareness campaign on plea bargain two months ago, approximately 150 applications have been submitted to the office of the Attorney General and are currently under consideration.
The announcement comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with challenges of prison congestion and lengthy pre-trial detentions, with plea bargain increasingly promoted as a mechanism for judicial efficiency and offender rehabilitation.
