The Nigerian Senate Thursday amended the clause 11 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act to a death sentence on conviction.
Prior to the amendment, clause 11 of the NDLEA Act reads, “Any offence for a person who has no lawful authority to do so, engages in the importation, production, manufacturing, processing, growing and planting of cocaine, heroin, LSD or any other drugs of similar nature. The offence is punishable on conviction with a sentence of life imprisonment”.
However, the Senate while considering the report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Right and Legal Matter and Drugs & Narcotics on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, uttered the punishment on conviction.
The Senate therefore amended that the punishment on conviction of the offence shall be death.
This resolution was sequel to the presentation of the report by the committee’s chairman, Senator Monguno Mohammed Tahir, where 46 sections/clauses of the NDLEA amendment bill were read in the red chamber.
The Senate had resolved into the Committee of Whole for a clause by clause consideration of the amendment bill.
On clause 11, Senator Ali Ndume argued that if the importation, production, manufacturing, processing, growing and planting of cocaine, heroin, LSD or any other drugs of similar nature must be reduced to the barest minimum, a stiffer punishment must be placed on the offenders.
Senator Ndume recommended that such offence should be punishable by death. The amendment was thrown into voice vote with the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, representing Senator Godswill Akpabio who briefly stepped out of the plenary, slammed the gavel for the “Hi”.
In a swift reaction, Senator Adams Oshiomhole questioned the amendment, saying caution must be taken when it comes to the issues of life and death.
While insisting that the voting be retaken with the Senators indicating their hands and proper counting be done, Senator Oshiomhole argued that he owns his constituents a point of duty to represent them in all decisions of the Senate.
Senator Jibrin, seating as Chair waved off the former governor’s observation.
The report of the Committee and amendment made during the plenary were adopted accordingly. The bill was read the third time and approved.
The Senate President, while commending the Committee chairman and the members, said the bill will serve as deterrent to would-be offenders.