November 22, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Senate has amended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act to prescribe life imprisonment for individuals found guilty of storing, transporting, or concealing illicit drugs and substances.
This follows the adoption of a harmonised position of the Senate and the House of Representatives on Section II of the NDLEA Act, during a plenary presided over by Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, on Thursday.
The Green Chamber had earlier passed an amendment prescribing life imprisonment for drug traffickers, while the Senate had proposed the death penalty. To reconcile the differences, a conference committee of both chambers was convened.
Senator Tahir Monguno, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, presented the harmonised version to the Senate.
Praying lawmakers to adopt the House’s position of life imprisonment, Monguno argued that enforcing the death penalty could lead to the execution of over 900 accused persons currently awaiting trial for drug-related offences.
A majority supported the resolution for life imprisonment when put to a voice vote.
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