Lagos Chief Judge Makes Case for Plea Bargaining
Lagos State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Opeyemi Oke, has stressed the need for Nigeria to join developed countries that have embraced the culture of plea bargaining, in their judicial systems.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Plea Bargaining Training Programme for Magistrates of the Lagos State Judiciary, organised by Rule of Law & Anti-Corruption in Nigeria (ROLAC), Justice Oke said that, in the United States where it is deeply entrenched, the culture has greatly advanced the judicial sector of the country.
"In the United States where plea bargaining is deeply entrenched, the Columbia Law Review reports that, about ninety percent of the criminal defendants convicted in State and Federal Courts plead guilty, rather than exercise their right to stand trial before a Court or Jury”, Justice Oke stated.
The Chief Judge said though the plea bargain system is gradually gaining ground in Nigeria, the system, since its inception, has proven to be a useful tool in aiding criminal justice administration, and has also curtailed undue delays in the dispensation of criminal justice.
According to her, a considerable number of high profile cases prosecuted by anti-graft agencies, have been concluded using the plea bargaining tool which she said is a form of criminal justice package on its own.
She added that, in Lagos State, the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, has lent its hands in a push towards the adoption of the concept of plea bargaining, as an accepted procedure in criminal proceedings.
“Sections 76 and 77 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, has firmly entrenched Plea Bargaining into our Criminal Justice system. Plea Bargain saves precious judicial time and resources, reduces the trauma to the victim, helps with prison decongestion, case management for the courts, and reduces the awaiting trial inmates in our prisons”, Justice Oke said.
While thanking the ROLAC, for partnering with the Lagos State Judiciary to train the State Magistrates, and for the efforts of the organisation towards improving the administration of justice in Lagos State, the Chief Judge expressed the belief that, the Magistrates will benefit immensely from the training considering the calibre of resource persons that would facilitate different sessions of the training.