Plea Deal, No Mercy: Anambra Cuts Court Delays—But Killers and Kidnappers Can’t Apply
The Anambra State Government has rolled out a plea bargain scheme for criminal suspects to fast-track justice and clear courtroom logjams. But if you’re facing charges for murder, rape, armed robbery, or kidnapping—don’t bother asking.
The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke (SAN), said the initiative is backed by Section 156 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State, 2022, and is designed to mainstream plea bargaining into the state’s legal system.
“We’ve got to operationalise this to ensure efficient case management,” Nweke stated.
Prosecutors have been directed to hand plea bargain forms to eligible defendants and guide them through the process. Completed forms go straight to the Ministry of Justice for review.
No compliance? No case. Any charge filed without following this new directive risks being scrapped outright.
All plea agreements must be endorsed by the head of the prosecuting agency’s legal department or by the Attorney-General himself if the case is handled by ministry lawyers.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s media aide, Dr. Ebuka Onyekwelu, hailed the policy as a key pillar of the administration’s “Solution Agenda” for judicial reform.
“The Governor promised to work with the legislature and judiciary to speed up justice delivery—this is that promise in action,” Onyekwelu said.
