By Martins Abochol
The Chief Judge of Taraba, Justice Joel Agya, has said that the fight against crime and corruption could not be effectively sustained without a witness protection and sentencing mechanism.
Agya said this at a One-Day Stakeholders Workshop on Witness Protection and Taraba Courts (Sentencing Guidelines) Practice Directions 2026, held on Wednesday in Jalingo.
The workshop organised by the Rule of Law Empowerment Initiative also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN), was supported by the MacArthur Foundation, and held in collaboration with the Taraba State Judiciary in Jalingo.
Agya emphasised 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 which 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 imperiled. 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 Nov. 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, both to the state and the residents.
He also said that plea bargaining, when properly regulated and transparently applied, was not a shortcut to injustice.
According to him, plea bargain is a pragmatic tool that reduces case backlogs, conserve judicial time, promote restitution to victims, and enhance public confidence in the justice system.
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 in the documents alone.
”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.
In her remarks, Mrs Rebecca Balami, Programme Officer, PWAN, on behalf of the Executive Director, Ms Kemi Okenyodo, commended the Chief Judge and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the state for their unwavering commitment to implementing a modern justice system.
Balami noted that Taraba was at the forefront in the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in the country.
She also acknowledged the MacArthur Foundation for their support in making the initiative successful.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that judicial officers, prosecutors, investigators, correctional officials, legal practitioners, and civil society actors participated in the workshop. (NAN)