Reflections on the Introduction of Plea-Bargain and Community Service by the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2007 in Lagos State and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is part of the global village and has to reform its criminal justice system to cope with the demands of democratic society nationally and internationally. New strategies must be developed to make our criminal justice system human rights friendly and more effective for crime control and easy dispensation of cases without delay.

Nigeria needs a justice system that works in the interest of justice. It should have Criminal Justice System that gives the accused, the victim of crime and witnesses equal treatment and protection. The concept of plea-bargain is internationally used to assist in saving time and energy of the agencies of the criminal justice system. New methods of disposal like compensation to the victim of crime and compulsory community service for the offenders are introduced to replace old methods and reduce the over use of imprisonment by our courts.

The Nigeria administration of justice system inherited from decades of military rule poses serious challenges for the democratic governance of Nigeria. The transformations of the Laws become necessary to reflect the new constitution and the demands of a democratic society.

In this article we will examine and reflect on the plea-bargain and community service introduced for the first time in Nigeria by the Administration of Justice Law 2007 in Lagos State and in Nigeria by the coming in effect of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. This article aims at enlightening lawyers and members of the public of the benefits of the introduction of plea-bargain and community service in the Nigerian Criminal Justice System.