Taraba Justice System Adopts Plea Bargain, Develops Guidelines

 

 

The Taraba State Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with other development partners, have commenced the development of guidelines for the implementation of the plea bargain to enhance the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in the state.

 

The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Yakubu Maikasuwa (SAN), made the declaration at a One-Day Workshop on the Development of Plea Bargain Guidelines, held in Jalingo.

 

The project was organised by the Taraba State Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the Rule of Law Empowerment Initiative, also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN) and the MacArthur Foundation.

 

Maikasuwa said that the policy became crucial for the state to enhance speedy and effective justice delivery.

 

Mr Yakubu Maikasuwa further explained that the plea bargain approach views justice as a "three-way traffic' which includes Justice for the defendant, justice for the victim, and justice for society, pointing out that the approach provides fairness in the discharge of justice to all.

 

The attorney general also stressed the need to key into the global shift in criminal trials from primitive to modern criminal trials.

 

He recalled that the ministry had constituted a committee on prison congestion, bringing reputable judges and other critical stakeholders into the committee.

 

Maikasuwa commended PWAN and MackArthur Foundation for the support in the embellishment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law in the state.

 

He said that the state government would continue to support the judiciary in its discharge of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law to the latter.

 

In her remark, Mrs Rebecca Bala, Programme Officer with the PWAN, said that the initiative would continue to support the state in its discharge of the Administration of Criminal Justice System, noting that it had already supported states across the federation in that regard.

 

She said that the goal of PWAN was to ensure accountability, efficiency and fair delivery of justice in Nigeria.

 

She commended the Taraba State Government for the modification of the modern and advanced justice system, as well as its adoption of Plea Bargain as another means of ensuring speedy discharge of criminal justice.

 

In a goodwill message, Justice Joel Agya, Chief Judge of Taraba, said that a plea bargain, if transparently implemented, would serve as an important tool for promoting efficiency, fairness and accountability in the administration of criminal justice.

 

Agya said that the law would reduce the burden on the courts, as well as save public resources and would ensure speedy discharge of justice without compromising due process and the rights of the accused.