ACCELERATED CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN NIGERIA THROUGH PLEA BARGAIN

Abstract

The phenomenon of delay associated with Nigerian Criminal Justice System has punctured the concept of justice in Nigeria. The Nigerian Criminal Justice System drags longer than necessary, falling victim to the axiom: justice delayed is justice denied. To tackle this hectic and age long challenge with the Nigerian Criminal Justice System, the concept of plea bargain became a necessity. Plea bargain aids criminal justice systems attain expeditious dispensation of justice to all parties concerned. In this concept, both the consent and cooperation of the victim, the prosecution, the court and the accused must be obtained and then a resolve will be reached for the overall good of all. Thus, this work argues that plea bargain is a theory that can ensure durable, effective, efficient and accelerated justice to all and thus should be made a mandatory procedure in criminal cases. This research adopted doctrinal research design, based on primary and secondary sources of data. As a result of the sceptical approach of law enforcement agencies and lawyers, we recommend a review of the constitution and practice direction with a view to introducing provision for application of plea bargain and the timeline. The article further recommend that government should conduct advocacy and sensitization of the public on the principle of plea bargain and the need for periodic review of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act\Law in tandem with this development.