Drug Traffickers, The Nigerian Senate has taken a significant step by approving the death penalty for any person convicted of drug trafficking. This decision follows the consideration of a report by the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters and Drugs & Narcotics, regarding the amendment of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act in 2024.
During the plenary session on Thursday, May 9, 2024, Senator Mohammed Monguno, Chairman of the committee on Judicial and Human Rights and Legal Matters, presented the report to the Senate.
The existing section 11 of the NDLEA Act stipulated life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of drug-related offenses. However, this section was amended to impose a harsher penalty of death for drug traffickers.
It’s noteworthy that the committee’s report did not originally propose the death penalty for the offense. However, Senator Ali Ndume proposed the upgrade of the penalty to a death sentence, a motion which received majority support during a voice vote in the Senate.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole raised objections to the decision, emphasizing the gravity of matters concerning life and death. Nonetheless, the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, presiding over the session, ruled that Oshiomhole’s objection was belated, affirming the Senate’s resolution.
TheNation.
