The Senate has approved a measure to impose the death penalty on drug traffickers in the country following the consideration of a report by the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, as well as Drugs and Narcotics, on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno North), Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, presented the report during Thursday’s plenary session.
The bill, which passed its third reading, aims to update the list of dangerous drugs, enhance NDLEA operations, review penalties, and empower the establishment of laboratories.
While the current act prescribes life imprisonment for drug traffickers convicted by a competent court, the 2024 bill seeks to amend this to impose the death penalty.
Though the report initially did not recommend the death penalty, Senator Ali Ndume proposed the upgrade from life imprisonment to the death penalty during deliberations.
During the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, presiding over the session, put the amendment to a voice vote, with the majority in favor.
However, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) expressed concerns that matters of life and death should not be rushed.
Barau countered that it was too late to call for a division after his ruling.
The bill was subsequently read for the third time and passed by the Senate.
