Is this the Best Time for Plea Bargaining?
Nigerians are daily confronted with allegations and revelations of mind-numbing looting of the public resources by highly-placed citizens. Although the government and EFCC are trying to recover the stolen funds, analysts believe a more lenient approach wi
* There should be no room for any plea bargaining in recovering the looted funds. The present administration should use every available means to recover the looted funds and assets, prosecute the looters and let them rot in jail and their family banned from holding any public offices.
- Mr. Kriskenny Ojogbede, Abuja
* Plea-bargaining should be allowed no place in the loot-recovery efforts of the Federal Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). If plea-bargaining is allowed to stand, looters would pray to their gods that they be not caught. And when they are caught, they may enter into plea -bargaining, which merely involves making refund. Thus, the deterrence effect that usually comes with jail terms, and the accompanying fall in status, is completely lost. People will now be more encouraged to try their luck in the fast lane of stealing from government. - Mr. Neville Kikpoye-Jonathan, President, Abua National Associates, Amalem -Abua, Rivers State
* The Nigerian Judiciary is now working against Nigeria not just PMB, and the bigger the crime the smaller the punishment. We all know that nothing good comes easily, but we will surely get there because fighting corruption is like fighting drug dealers; one has to sacrifice a lot. Flushing all the leaders at the top is the only way out.
- Mr. Aliyu Hassan, Abuja
* The task of probing our elites and leaders seems herculean because only very few of them are clean in its true sense. The intensity in looting is more alarming now more than before. But can PMB probe himself? Total recovery of the loot and prosecution of the looters is the key. It might take years but it is worth doing if anything good is wished for the country. No plea bargaining. - Mazi Kaonyesieme Ifeanacho, Jos, Plateau State
* No to any plea bargain. It is tantamount to bending the rule in favour of these sacred thieves. The anti-graft war would be lost and lost forever and our laws ridiculed unjustly. Must we continue to aid and abet corruption, as cancerous and as virulent as it is? We must change for good by following truth and honesty.
- Miss Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos State
* What is plea bargaining? PMB should go all the way to recover the loot and also prosecute the looters. They don’t deserve any breathing space. They are the reason many are dying today because of poor medication in almost all government hospitals. They must be severely punished when the loot is recovered.
- Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna
* Loot recovery is trending in the land now and it has been this way for a while. I am getting concerned with what transpires after recovery; how is it channeled? Furthermore, the government should ratchet up citizens’ support by promptly deploying part of the loot to critical sectors of our economy. - Mr. Ekwenjo Iheanyi Chukwudi, Brainchild Academic Resources (BAR), Apo, Abuja
* Plea bargaining is not acceptable. It has never worked in Nigeria. People had plea bargained before and hidden a lot of the stolen wealth with proxies. When the whole brouhaha had finished they went back still living like kings and queens. The best thing is for them to be prosecuted and if found guilty they go to jail. This will serve as a deterrent to others, their friends, children and relations. It will bring a lot of shame to them.
- Prof. Kate Nwufo, mni, Abuja
* If plea bargain under the cover of the law will bring back our stolen money quickly, fine. PMB needs our prayers for God to give him wisdom to serve our country. In addition, PMB should do less talk about how Nigerians are corrupt whenever he travels abroad. - Pastor Obinna Osagu, Akure, Ondo State
* No, it is obviously belated. Why negotiate with unjust looters of tax-payers money to please hand over same when in truth such monies are actually stolen? Prof. Sagay’s committee patiently begged them to return the loots quietly, to no avail. It’s apt time to recover the public funds without fear or favour. We must change positively and not condone any such brutally treacherous illegality by a nefarious powerful few. Justice must prevail over evil at all cost.
- Mr. Apeji Onesi, Lagos State
* Our criminal justice system is weak, full of loopholes and ineffective. So, plea bargaining could be welcome to recover our looted commonwealth. However, the offenders should be made public. In addition, people with minor cases languishing in prisons should be granted amnesty except cases like murder, armed robbery, arson, kidnapping, treason, vandals and rape. May God heal our land. - Mr. Umoru Jeremiah Isah, Malali, Kaduna
* Plea bargain for recovery and immediate declaration is better than this “expose my enemies” and “I am a saint” judicial entertainment we are enduring.
- Mr. Anene Azubuike, Abuja
* No, there is no time for any plea bargaining of any sort. PMB must realise that the actions and inactions of these thieving elites caused more grievous wreckage on our human, social, economic, spiritual existence than imaginable. It’s sad and unfortunate to negotiate with such horrible criminals. No matter whose ox is gored, a thief is a thief in the African context; treat them as thieves; that is what they are. - Ms. Saiki Tina Ometere, Gboko, Benue State
* Plea bargaining will encourage corruption in governance. Let the presidency and all the anti-graft agencies say no to plea bargaining but ensure we get all our stolen funds from the looter leaders. China and Ghana that are doing well now, killed corruption. Nigerians should back PMB’s anti-corruption fight because recovered funds will go a long way for infrastructural development, irrespective of party difference, tribe and religion. - Mr. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Public Commentator, Umukabia, Abia State * If plea bargaining will allow agencies like the EFCC recover our stolen money and at the same time identify and convict the looters, then PMB should embrace it wholeheartedly. Fearful looters can then quietly refund their loot more easily and any publicly-shamed thief or looter will think twice before dipping hands in the commonwealth till again.
- Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos State
* This is certainly the right time for plea bargaining to be brought in because there is a healthy fear of the EFCC now and the judiciary is not showing signs of treating corruption cases with the speed they require. If plea bargaining as a means getting a conviction is not applied soon, Buhari’s anti-corruption drive will be rubbished by our justice system in the few cases. The reforms our judiciary need will take years to begin to bear fruit, and so far it hasn’t even started.
- Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State