The chief judge of Taraba, Justice Joel Agya, says the fight against crime and corruption could not be effectively sustained without a witness protection and sentencing mechanism.

Mr Agya said this at a one-day stakeholders workshop on “witness protection and Taraba courts (sentencing guidelines) practice directions”, held on Wednesday in Jalingo.

The workshop organised by the Rule of Law Empowerment Initiative, also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria, was supported by the MacArthur Foundation and held in collaboration with the Taraba State Judiciary in Jalingo.

Mr Agya noted that witnesses were the lifeblood of criminal trials, noting that a criminal justice system that failed to protect its witnesses, ”encourages silence, fear, and impunity”.

”The issue of witness protection in our criminal justice system is key; without it, the fight against crime and corruption cannot be effectively sustained. Witnesses remain the lifeblood of criminal trials.

“Where witnesses are exposed to intimidation, reprisals, or undue hardship, justice itself is imperilled. It is therefore imperative that we institutionalise practical and context-appropriate witness protection mechanisms within our justice processes,” he said.

The chief judge said that plea bargaining and the Taraba courts (sentencing guidelines) practice directions, which were central to the workshop, were developed by the Rule of Law Empowerment Initiative with support from the MacArthur Foundation during stakeholder engagements held on November 14 and 15, 2025.

He described the exercise as a significant milestone, saying it reflected a collective recognition that a modern criminal justice system must be efficient, transparent, predictable, and fair to the state and its residents.

He also said that plea bargaining, when properly regulated and transparently applied, was not a shortcut to injustice.

According to him, a plea bargain is a pragmatic tool that reduces case backlogs, conserves judicial time, promotes restitution to victims, and enhances public confidence in the justice system.

Mr Agya further emphasised that sentencing guidelines served as a vital compass for judicial discretion, ensuring consistency, proportionality, and fairness while still preserving the independence of the courts. He, however, cautioned that the success of these reforms does not lie solely in the documents.

“Laws, rules, and guidelines are only as effective as the capacity, understanding, and commitment of those entrusted with their implementation. This is why continuous capacity building and sustained stakeholder engagement are indispensable,” he said.

He commended PWAN and the MacArthur Foundation for collaborating with the Taraba Ministry of Justice and the Taraba Judiciary to convene the workshop.

He described it as a forum for robust dialogue, shared learning, and practical reflection on operationalising the guidelines within the state’s institutional and socio-legal environment.

(NAN)