The Attorney General of Anambra State, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, has described the early release of controversial native doctor Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki, as a remote benefit of the plea bargain agreement reached in his case.
Nweke made the disclosure in a statement issued by the Anambra State Ministry of Information and Value Reorientation, urging persons standing trial who are satisfied that they are guilty of the offences for which they are charged to consider the benefits of plea bargaining.
According to the Attorney General, Akwa Okuko received a lesser sentence from the court following the plea bargain reached between him and the state government.
He explained that the remorse shown by Nwangwu, coupled with the relatively short period remaining on his sentence, provided grounds for Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to consider granting him the prerogative of mercy.
The Governor subsequently remitted the remaining unserved portion of Nwangwu’s prison term, leading to his early release from the correctional centre.
Nweke said the release also enables Akwa Okuko to immediately participate in the state’s youth reformation and reorientation campaign, in line with commitments contained in the plea bargain agreement.
The Attorney General described the governor’s decision as a “remote benefit” of the plea bargain, explaining that while the agreement itself resulted in a reduced sentence, it also created circumstances that later enabled the consideration of the prerogative of mercy.
Nweke further explained that plea bargaining can provide convicted persons with the possibility of non-custodial sentences or shorter custodial terms, depending on the circumstances of each case. He added that plea bargains may also provide mechanisms for restitution or compensation to victims of offences.
He said the Soludo administration was committed to reducing congestion in correctional centres and was promoting plea bargaining as one of the mechanisms for keeping eligible persons out of prolonged custody.
The Attorney General disclosed that approximately 150 applications for plea bargaining had been received by his office since the Ministry of Justice launched a plea-bargain awareness campaign about two months ago.
He said the applications were currently being considered in accordance with the applicable legal processes.
By Enitan Mudashiru | MUK TV News
