By Chinedu Echianu
The Anambra State Government has introduced a plea bargain initiative for defendants facing criminal trials in the state, as part of efforts to decongest correctional centres and accelerate the administration of justice.
However, the initiative excludes defendants charged with murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and rape.
The development was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday in Awka by the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN.
Nweke said the initiative formed part of the government’s broader justice sector reforms aimed at reducing congestion in correctional facilities, easing the burden on the courts and strengthening the criminal justice system in line with the administration’s reform agenda.
The Attorney General also directed all prosecutors in the state to issue prescribed plea bargain forms to defendants in eligible criminal cases before their pleas are taken.
The directive, dated July 22, 2026, applies to offences created under the laws of the Anambra State House of Assembly, except murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and rape.
According to the directive, the measure is intended to operationalise and mainstream plea bargaining in the administration of criminal justice in the state, in accordance with Section 156 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State, 2022.
Nweke, citing his powers under Section 211 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State, directed prosecutors to ensure that defendants in eligible criminal cases are informed of the option to enter into a plea bargain.
The directive states that defendants must be issued a plea bargain form by the prosecuting counsel or officer before or at the point of service of the charge or information, or at any time thereafter but before the taking of their plea.
The prosecuting counsel or officer is also required to inform the defendant of the option to plea bargain by completing the prescribed form.
The completed form must be signed by the defendant and submitted to the prosecutor or the Ministry of Justice.
The directive further warned that any charge or information initiated or prosecuted without the issuance of the plea bargain form to an eligible defendant would be deemed to have been brought contrary to the directive and may be discontinued.
It also stipulated that all plea bargain agreements entered into by the prosecution must, except where otherwise directed by the Attorney General, be signed, countersigned or approved in writing by the head of the legal department of the prosecuting agency.
For law officers of the Ministry of Justice, such agreements must be approved by the Attorney General or any person authorised by him.
The Attorney General, however, stressed that the directive does not apply to cases involving rape, kidnapping, armed robbery and murder.
He added that no plea bargain could be entered into in respect of any of the four offences without the express approval of the Attorney General.
