Akwa Okuko: Plea Bargain Paved Way for Early Release — Anambra AG

The Anambra State Attorney General, Mr Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, has explained that the early release of inmate Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwa Okuko, resulted from a combination of plea bargain proceedings and the Governor’s prerogative of mercy.

This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Christian Aburime.

According to the statement, Nweke, speaking on Friday, encouraged inmates currently standing trial in the state to consider plea bargain arrangements where they are satisfied of their guilt regarding the offences with which they are charged. He cited Nwangwu’s case as an instructive example of the process.

According to the Attorney General, the remorse demonstrated by Nwangwu, coupled with the relatively short period remaining on his sentence, created conditions that made him suitable for executive clemency.

The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, subsequently approved his release from the Correctional Centre, remitting the unserved portion of his imprisonment term.

“The plea bargain indirectly paved the way for the prerogative of mercy, which we describe as a remote benefit of the plea bargain arrangement,” Nweke stated.

Nweke further explained that under plea bargain agreements, convicted persons may receive non-custodial sentences, while those who receive prison terms may benefit from reduced periods of incarceration.

The arrangement also typically requires restitution or compensation to victims of the alleged offences.

“As agreed under the plea bargain agreement, the early release of Akwa Okuko enables him to immediately join the State on the campaign on youth reformation and re-orientation,” the Attorney General said.

He noted that the Soludo administration prioritises the decongestion of correctional centres and is systematically mainstreaming plea bargain as a judicial tool to reduce pre-trial detention and overcrowding.

Since the State Ministry of Justice launched a public awareness campaign on plea bargain two months ago, approximately 150 applications have been submitted to the Office of the Attorney General and are currently under consideration.

The announcement comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with challenges of prison congestion and lengthy pre-trial detention, with plea bargain increasingly being promoted as a mechanism for improving judicial efficiency and supporting offender rehabilitation.