The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed yesterday cautioned judges on granting plea bargain during the course of administering criminal justice which may be sought by those who have looted public funds.
In his opening remarks during a two-day workshop organised for judges and judicial officers of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he noted that the judiciary will fare well with the administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The CJN who was represented by Hon Justice Mohammed Tanko, warned judges to tread cautiously on cases of plea bargaining.
He said: “I want to use this opportunity to warn judges in our various courts and I repeat that they must be careful with plea bargaining cases which they must be judicious in its consideration rather than being malicious.”
While espousing on the contents of administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, he submitted that it has shifted the society from the past history of delays and indiscriminate arrest and detention into a society where rights of the accused is protected.
He was emphatic on the provisions in the act where the accused has right to be silent until he consults his legal adviser as well as making the Police to maintain criminal records which will eventually facilitate the process of prosecution.
He said: “The provisions of Criminal Justice Act 2015 which was passed by the 7th National Assembly and assented by former President Goodluck Jonathan has in a way modified the rights of accused in a manner that his rights cannot be taken for granted anymore.”
Also speaking Justice Ishaq Bello, the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory in making reference to Sections 5 and 58 described administration of criminal justice act as a revolution that drives its activities in the right direction, but noted that the implementation lies more on judges.
The Project Officer at United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), Ugonna Ezekwem reiterated the commitment of UNODC and the European Union (EU) to training judicial officers on how best to implement laws in order to better the society.
She opined that the UNODC and EU has a long standing relationship with FCT judiciary while calling for more training programmes that will advance the cause of judicial officers.
“I want to say here that UNODC and EU has a long standing relationship with FCT judiciary in training of its officers and we will continue to do so,” she said.
The workshop was organised by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), European Union and the Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Abuja.
