A Review of Plea Bargain Concept in the Anti- Corruption War in Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.blj.2018.005.01.01Keywords:
Corruption, crime, plea bargain, sentence, administration of criminal justiceAbstract
This article aims to reviews corruption in Nigeria, the plea bargain concept, the application of plea bargain in the war against corruption in Nigeria and concludes with recommendations. Corruption in Nigeria has become endemic. There is consistent desecration of societal values with serious economic and socio-political consequences. The Nigerian government over the years has put in place several measures to combat the menace called corruption. A number of anti-corruption agencies including Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), among others have been established in order to achieve this aim. In order to address the criticism and contentions associated with the concept under the EFCC Act, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) was enacted in 2015. ACJA makes elaborate provision for plea bargain so as to enhance quicker dispensation of justice and help in prison decongestion.
This paper begins with brief description on anti corruption scheme established in Nigeria and endeavors to assess the strength of Nigeria's effort in plea bargain in the war against corruption, effective implementation, and compliance
References
Chapters in a Book
Adelodun, Adebayo, ‘Moral Impropriety As a Specie of Corruption: An Expose of the Public Service in Nigeria’ inYusuf O Ali (ed.), Anatomy of Corruption in Nigeria, Issues, Challenges & Solutions(Intec Printers Ltd 2016) 33.
Adenipekun, Adebayo, ‘The Roles of Nigerian Citizens in the Fight Against Corruption’ in Yusuf O Ali (ed.), Anatomy of Corruption in Nigeria, Issues, Challenges & Solutions (Intec Printers Ltd 2016) 84.
Muhammad, I T, ‘Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria: Sharia Point of View’ in Yusuf O Ali (ed.), Anatomy of Corruption in Nigeria, Issues, Challenges & Solutions (Intec Printers Ltd 2016) 147-148.
Eleja, Kehinde Kolawole, ‘The Bar in the Vanguard of War Against Corruption’ in Yusuf O Ali (ed.), Anatomy of Corruption in Nigeria, Issues, Challenges & Solutions (Intec Printers Ltd 2016) 176-177.
Ali, Yusuf O, ‘The Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria- Myth or Reality’ in Yusuf O Ali (ed.),Anatomy of Corruption in Nigeria, Issues, Challenges & Solutions( Intec Printers Ltd 2016) 4.
Journal Articles
Ekpo, Charles E, J Chime and F Enor, ‘The Irony of Nigeria’s Fight against Corruption: An Appraisal of President Muhammadu Buhari’s First Eight Months in Office’ (2016) 4 (1) International Journal of History and Philosophical Research 63
Austine, Ejovi, Mgbonyebi Voke Charles and Akpokighe Okiemute Raymond, ‘Corruption in Nigeria: A Historical Perspective’ (2013) 3 (16) Research on Humanities and Social Sciences 19-20
Ojeih, F E and D O Okanyi, ‘The Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015: An Appraisal’ (2016) 7 Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti Law Journal519-522
Beall, George, ‘Principles of Plea Bargaining’ (1977) 9 (1) Loyola University Chicago Law Journal 175-176
Langbehin, John H, ‘Understanding the Short History of Plea Bargaining’ (1979) 13Law and Society 261.
Akor, Linus, ‘The Transparency International and Nigeria’s Corruption Perception Index: Implications for Sustainable Transformations’ (2014) 3 (5) Global Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences 37-41.
McMullan, M, ‘A Theory of Corruption’ (1961) Social Review 183, 184.
Ogbeidi, Michael M, Political Leadership and Corruption in Nigeria since 1960: A Socio-Economic Analysis’ (2012) 1 (2) Journal of Nigerian Studies 15-16.
Friday, Obialor Collins and Ozuzu Henry Ugochukwu, ‘Corruption and Effective Public Service Performance in Nigeria’ (2017) 5 (3) International Journal of Advanced Studies in Economics and Public Sector Management 71-72.
Jacob, Omenka Iba, ‘The Effect of Corruption on Development in Nigeria’ (2013) 15 (6) Journal of Humanities and Social Science 40.
Okparavero, Patience A, ‘An Overview of the Various Anti-Corruption Laws in Nigeria’ (2016) 4 (1) Akungba Law Journal 59.
Okolo, Philips O and Akpokighe Okiemute Raymond, ‘Corruption in Nigeria: The Possible Way Out’ (2014) 14 (7) 35.
Mathew, Rotimi Ekundayo, Obasaju Barnabas, Lawal, AdedoyinIsola and Iseolorunkanmi Joseph, ‘Analysis of Corruption and Economic Growth in Nigeria’ (2013) 4 (4.2) Afro Asian Journal of Social Sciences 4.
Moyosore, Shuaib Olanrewaju, ‘Corruption in Nigeria: Causes, Effects and Probable Solutions’ (2015) 1 (8) Journal of Political Science and Leadership Research 27-28.
Constitution
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Statutes
Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015
Administration of Criminal Justice Laws of Lagos State 2007
Criminal Procedure Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004
Criminal Procedure Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act
Evidence Act 2011
Case Laws
Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742 (1970).
Ibeziako v. C.O.P, (1963) 1 All NLR 61.
Santobello v. New York, 404 U.S 257, 260 (1971).
Dictionary
B A Garner (Ed.), Black’s Law Dictionary(7thedn, West Group Publishing 1999) 348.
Newspaper (online)
Bassey Udo, ‘NEITI Audit Uncovers N2.23 Trillion Lost, Unremitted revenues by NNPC in 2013’Premium Times Newspaper (Nigeria, 23 May 2016) available online at <http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/203908-neiti-audit-uncovers-n2-23trillion-lost-unremitted-revenues-by-nnpc-in-2013.html>
Clement A Oloyede, ‘Anti-Graft War and Plea bargain Mechanism: What Should be Done’ Daily Trust Newspaper (Nigeria, 23 July 2016) available online at <http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/law/anti-graft-war-and-plea-bargain-mechanism-what-should-be-done/159869.html>
Clement A Oloyede, ‘Anti-Graft War and Plea bargain Mechanism: What Should be Done’ Daily Trust Newspaper (Nigeria, 23 July 2016) available online at <http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/law/anti-graft-war-and-plea-bargain-mechanism-what-should-be-done/159869.html>
Eniola Akinkuotu, ‘Plea Bargain Drama: EFCC Asks Amosu, Others to Plead Guilty, Forfeit 33 Houses’ Punch Newspaper (Nigeria, 10 July 2016) available online at <http://punchng.com/plea-bargain-drama-efcc-asks-amosu-others-plead-guilty-forfeit-33-houses/>
EzeAnaba, ‘Iborito Spend 4 ½ Years in UK Prison’ Vanguard Newspaper (Nigeria, 18 April 2012) available online at <http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/04/ibori-to-spend-41/2-years-in-uk-prison/>
Femi Makinde, ‘Trending: Uniosun Lecturer in Sex Scandal Video’ Punch Newspaper (Nigeria, 11 August 2016) available online at<http://punchng.com/uniosun-lecturer-sex-scandal-video/>
Fido, ‘Obanikoro Fulfills Pact with EFCC: Returns Another N30M, to Pay up N417M’ The Herald Newspaper (Nigeria, 2 February 2017) available online at <http://www.herald.ng/obanikoro-fulfills-pact-with-efcc-returns-another-n30m-to-pay-up-n417m/>
George Oji and Lillian Okenwa, ‘Corruption: Balogun Pleads Guilty, jailed 6 months’ available online at <http://nmonlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=6126>
Leadership Editorial, ‘Immigration Job Scam Forgotten?’ Leadership Newspaper (Nigeria, 2 August 2014) available online at <http://leadership.ng/opinions/editorial/379760/immigration-job-scam-forgotten>
O Ogundele, ‘Thanksgiving Service for Ibori in Oghara’ The Nation Newspaper (Nigeria, 12 February 2017) available online at <http://thenationonlineng.net/thanksgiving-service-ibori-oghara/>
Olaleye Aluko, ‘17 Policemen Arrested for Taking Bribes’Punch Newspaper (Nigeria, 2 November 2016) available online at <http://punchng.com/17-policemen-arrested-taking-bribes/>
Press Release, ‘How EFCC Recovered $9.8 Million from Yakubu, Ex-NNPC GMD’Premium Times Newspaper (Nigeria, 10 February 2017) available online at <http://www.premiumtimesng.com/author/press-release> accessed 10 February 2017.
Ronald Mutum, ‘Immigration Recruitment: EFCC Detains Abba Moro’ Daily Trust Newspaper (Nigeria, 23 February 2016) available online at
Sani Tukur, ‘55 Nigerians stole over N1.34 Trillion in 8 years’Premium Times Newspaper(Nigeria, 18 January 2016) available online at<http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/196981-55-nigerians-stole-over-n1-34-trillion-in-8-years-lai-mohammed.html>
Sani Tukur, ‘EFCC Reopens Halliburton Bribery Case, Senior Nigerian Lawyer Quizzed, 5 others s for Probe’Premium Times Newspaper (Nigeria, 13 February 2016) available online at <http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/198365-efcc-reopens-halliburton-bribery-case-senior-nigerian-lawyer-quizzed-5-sans-probe.html>
Shaibu Inalegwu, ‘Maina, Others Defraud Police Pension Fund of N21 Bn’ Vanguard Newspaper (Nigeria, 9 March 2012) available online at<http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/03/maina-others-defraud-police-pension-fund-of-n21bn-dcp/>accessed 17 January; Leo Sobechi, ‘Diezani-Alison Madueke: Scaring the Golden Face of a Lost Era’Guardian Newspaper (Nigeria, 11 October 2015) available online at <http://guardian.ng/features/policy-a-politics/diezani-alison-madueke-scaring-the-golden-face-of-a-lost-era/>
Soni Daniel, Henry Umoru and Ikechukwu Nnochiri, ‘Alleged Corruption: Justices Okoro, Ademola, Ngwuta Risk 58 years Jail’ Vanguard Newspaper (Nigeria, 1 November 2016) available online at <http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/alleged-corruption-justices-okoro-ademola-ngwuta-risk-58-yrs-jail/>
Yusuf Alli, ‘Battle to Recover Looted Funds Shifts to Dubai’The Nation Newspaper (Nigeria, 4 February 2017) available online at http://thenationonlineng.net/battle-recover-looted-funds-shifts-dubai/
Web Sources
'Differences between an Adversarial and an Inquisitorial Legal System' available online at <http://www.ashfords.co.uk/article/differences-between-an-adversarial-and-an-inquisitorial-legal-system>
'The Adversarial System vs. The Inquisitorial System' available online at <http://www.cbl-international.com/docs/csu0714/the-adversarial-vs-inquisitorial-system.pdf>
BBC News – ‘Former Nigerian Bank CEO Jailed for Fraud’ available online at <http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-11506421>
Chimezie Ogbonna, ‘The Hue and Cry on the Application of Plea Bargain in Nigerian Criminal Justice System: Whether Necessary or Not?’ available online at <http://www.narrator.ng/the-hue-and-cry-on-the-application-of-plea-bargain-in-nigerian-criminal-justice-system-whether-necessary-or-not/>
Corruption Perception Index’ available online at <http://www.transparency.org/research/cpi/overview>
Medical Doctor, 3 Others Charged to Court for Corruption, Theft’ available online at <http://icirnigeria.org/medical-doctor-3-others-charged-to-Court-for-corruption-theft/>
Mike Uzochukwu, ‘Review, Causes, Effects and Solution to Corruption in Nigeria’ available online at <https://soapboxie.com/world-politics/Corruption-in-Nigeria>
Olayiwola Oluwaseyi Adebayo, ‘The Concept of Plea Bargain as a Veritable Tool for Justice or Corruption’available online at <http://www.legalnaija.com/2016/09/the-concept-of-plea-bargain-as.html>
Plea Bargaining Gains Favour in American Courts’ available online at <http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/plea-bargaining-gains-favor-in-american-Courts>
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2018 Brawijaya Law Journal : Journal of Legal Studies
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
