The Nigerian Senate has approved the death penalty for individuals convicted of drug trafficking in the country. This decision amends the extant NDLEA Act, which previously prescribed a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for the same offense.
The Senate reached this resolution after considering a report from 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. The bill, which passed its third reading, aims to update the list of dangerous drugs, strengthen NDLEA operations, review penalties, and empower the establishment of laboratories.
Section 11 of the current NDLEA Act, which addresses offenses related to the importation, manufacturing, production, processing, planting, or growing of drugs like cocaine, LSD, heroin, or similar substances, previously prescribed life imprisonment. However, this section has been amended to include the death penalty as a stiffer penalty for such offenses.
Although the committee's report did not initially recommend the death penalty, Senator Ali Ndume proposed during consideration that the life sentence be upgraded to death. The amendment was put to a voice vote by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session. Despite objections from Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who argued that matters of life and death should not be rushed, the amendment was passed.
The bill was subsequently read for the third time and passed by the Senate, signaling a significant change in the country's approach to tackling drug trafficking offenses.
