Plea Bargain, Threat To Anti-Graft Battle –Justice Gummi

The Chief Judge of FCT High Court, Justice Lawal Gummi, said on Monday in Abuja that plea bargain was a serious threat to the fight against corruption and economic crimes.

At an interaction with some students of the Nigeria Law School, Bwari, Gummi, said the acceptance of plea bargain in criminal matters would make nonsense of the fight against corruption.

He wondered why someone suspected to have stolen hundreds of millions of naira would be asked to pay a paltry N3 million and sent away with a mere slap on the back of his hand.

“When these people know that they can do this and get away with it, they will go back and commit another, knowing that all they will get if they return some money is freedom.

“This concept will provide a fertile ground for criminal elements to continue in their pastime of looting public funds. It will encourage corruption and other economic crimes.

“Plea bargain is alien to Nigeria’s jurisprudence. There is no specific provision in our law.

“I think it is only in Lagos State that the plea bargaining has been enacted”.

Gummi, expressed worries with the decline in the quality of young lawyers and appealed for mentoring of the lawyers.

“In introducing mentoring, we will have a legal system that is devoid of sharp and unprofessional practices,” he said.