Why we released native doctor Akwa Okuko — Anambra government

The Anambra State Government has explained the early release of native doctor Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki, from prison, saying the decision followed a plea bargain, his remorse and the short period remaining on his sentence.

Nwangwu, who was serving an 11-month prison term under a plea bargain agreement with the state government, was released last week by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

His release was followed by his appointment as youth ambassador for Anambra State.

Why Soludo approved his release

The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Tochukwu Nweke, SAN, said the plea bargain had resulted in Nwangwu receiving a lesser sentence from the court.

He explained that Nwangwu’s remorse and the short period left on his sentence subsequently gave the governor grounds to exercise his prerogative of mercy.

Nweke said the governor remitted the remaining portion of the sentence to allow Nwangwu to leave the correctional centre and immediately participate in the state’s campaign on youth reformation and reorientation.

“Based on the plea bargain between Akwa Okuko and the state government, he was given a lesser sentence by the court,” Nweke said.

“The remorse shown by him, the short length of his remaining sentence, among others, presented an opportunity for the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to consider him worthy of prerogative of mercy.”

Commissioner explains plea bargaining

Nweke said Nwangwu’s early release was an indirect benefit of the plea bargain arrangement and encouraged defendants who were satisfied that they were guilty of the offences for which they were charged to consider the process.

According to him, plea bargaining can result in reduced prison sentences or non-custodial sentences, depending on the circumstances of individual cases.

He added that such agreements could also provide for restitution or compensation to victims of offences.

The commissioner said the process was not limited to securing reduced sentences, but could also help the justice system resolve cases more efficiently while ensuring that appropriate consequences were imposed.

Anambra receives 150 applications

Nweke said the Soludo administration was promoting plea bargaining as part of efforts to decongest correctional centres across the state.

He disclosed that the Ministry of Justice had received about 150 applications since it launched a campaign on plea bargaining two months ago.

The applications, he said, were being considered by the ministry as the government seeks to expand the use of plea bargaining within the state’s justice system.

Nweke maintained that the initiative was aimed at keeping more eligible offenders out of custodial facilities while improving the efficiency of justice administration in Anambra.