By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Anambra State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, has clarified that Governor Chukwuma Soludo did not pardon the former native doctor, Chidozie Nwangwu (popularly known as Akwa Ọkụkọ Tiwara Akị), but merely remitted the unserved portion of his prison sentence under the governor’s constitutional prerogative of mercy.
Nweke made the clarification while interacting with newsmen in Awka the state capital, explaining that Nwangwu’s early release was linked to a number of factors, including the plea-bargain arrangement that brought his criminal case to an end, his expression of remorse, and the relatively short period remaining on his sentence.
According to the Attorney-General, the governor acted after consultation with the State Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, which considered the circumstances of the case before recommending the appropriate intervention.
The Attorney-General explained that Nwangwu (Awka Ọkụkọ) had pleaded guilty as part of the plea-bargain process and had been sentenced by the High Court. Under the arrangement, his custodial exposure was reportedly reduced, while other conditions included his renunciation of the practices connected with the case and his proposed involvement in youth reorientation. Nweke said the plea bargain therefore provided an indirect pathway to the subsequent exercise of mercy, but was not itself a pardon by the governor.
“The governor did not grant pardon to Akwa Ọkụkọ. What he granted was remission,” Nweke said, stressing that the governor remitted the remaining part of Nwangwu’s imprisonment and released him.
He reiterated that the decision was also informed by Nwangwu’s remorse, his guilty plea and the government’s expectation that he could now contribute to its campaign for the reorientation and reformation of young people.
While fielding questions from newsmen about innovations by the State to ensure quicker dispensation of justice and avoid over-congestion of detention facilities in the state, Nweke mentioned some of the measures introduced since he assumed office as the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, specifically highlighting the significance of plea bargains.
According to him, the Soludo Administration is deliberately expanding the use of plea bargaining as part of efforts to address congestion in the state’s courts and correctional centres.
The Commissioner also used the opportunity to encourage defendants who are genuinely guilty of the offences for which they are being tried to consider plea bargaining where applicable, saying the mechanism could bring criminal cases to an earlier conclusion and reduce the number of people spending prolonged periods in custody.
According to him, plea bargains could result in reduced custodial sentences or non-custodial measures, depending on the circumstances, and may also involve restitution or compensation to victims.
“Plea bargaining entails getting the suspect to bargain with the state. And then we have an agreement. They plead guilty to a lesser offense or plead guilty to the count that they are charged before. And then you have a reduced sentence” he stated.
He disclosed that about 170 applications had currently been received under the mechanism, adding that the initiative had already helped to facilitate the quicker resolution of criminal matters and the release of eligible detainees.
“So, with that mechanism, we have about 170 applications now for plea bargaining. With that mechanism, we have quick closure to criminal cases; and those in detention are out early,” he added.
The State Attorney-General revealed that Anambra Judiciary was the busiest after Lagos, in terms of cases in courts.
He further disclosed that the Ministry of Justice was reviewing criminal cases arising from land disputes because some matters that had been presented as criminal offences were, on closer examination, essentially civil disputes.
Nweke said under this review, cases found to fall within the civil category would be discontinued from the criminal courts, thereby preventing people from remaining in detention or facing criminal trials over disputes that should properly be resolved through civil proceedings.
