Lagos holds virtual session on plea bargaining, sentencing tips

By Adebisi Onanuga

Judges from within and outside the country, magistrates, prosecutors, and defence lawyers across the country numbering about 391, at a virtual session, considered ways of improving plea bargaining in criminal justice system.

The virtual session was facilitated by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.

Plea bargaining is held  in a situation where an accused person, rather than wasting the time of the court, accepts guilt in a criminal charge in order to mitigate sentencing.

A statement by the Director Public Affairs, Kayode Oyekanmi, said  that

the virtual session afforded prosecutors to share knowledge on plea bargain and sentencing practice.

According to the statement, the knowledge sharing session which was moderated by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs. Olayinka Adeyemi, had about 391 attendees

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It said those in attendance included judges, magistrates, prosecutors, and defense lawyers across the country.

According to the DPP, the virtual session generated several suggestions aimed at improving the Plea Bargain System of Lagos State.

The second edition of the prosecutor’s knowledge sharing session (KSS) discussants included: the state’s Attorney-General and  Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN); Counsel Jones Day,  a retired Judge U.S. Court of Appeal, Judge Ann Claire Williams;

a Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Judge Margo Brodie and Justice R.I.B Adebiyi of the Lagos State Judiciary;

Other guest discussants included: the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey; a Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, (UNILAG), Akoka, Lagos, Dr. Akeem Bello and Director of Public Prosecution(DPP) Jamaica,

Ms. Paula Llewellyn, CD, Q.C.