Senate approves death penalty for drug traffickers

The Senate has approved death penalty for drug traffickers in the country.

This is sequel to the consideration of a report of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Drugs and Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno North) presented the report during plenary on Thursday.

The bill, which passed its third reading, is aimed at updating the list of dangerous drugs, strengthening the operations of the NDLEA, reviewing penalties, and empowering the establishment of laboratories.

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Section 11 of the current act prescribes life sentence for drug traffickers found guilty of the offence by a competent court. But the 2024 bill sought an amendment to reflect a stiffer penalty which is death.

Although the report did not recommend a death penalty for the offence, during consideration, Senator Ali Ndume moved that the life sentence should be upgraded to the death penalty.

During a clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, put the amendment on the death penalty to a voice vote and ruled that the “ayes” had it.

But Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) argued that matters of life and death should not be treated hurriedly, but Barau said it was too late, as he failed to call for division immediately after his ruling.

The bill was subsequently read for the third time and passed by the Senate.