The Senate has approved the death penalty for drug traffickers in the country, as it passes through the third reading, the 2024 NDLEA Act (Amendment) Bill.
This also applies to the manufacturing, importation, dealing in, or delivery of drugs by any means.
The drugs specifically mentioned in a new bill passed by the Senate on Thursday are cocaine and heroin, among others
This followed the presentation of a report on behalf of the joint committees on judiciary and drugs and narcotics by Borno North Senator, Tahir Monguno.
In his presentation, Monguno said there is a need to strengthen the war against drugs in Nigeria.
After the report was presented, the Senate went into the “committee of the whole” to consider clauses of the bill where some senators disagreed with the death sentence
Commenting, Edo North Senator Adams Oshiomhole expressed his displeasure over what he considered a hasty consideration and passage of the amended clause.
“Anything that deals with life, we should be careful,” Oshiomhole said.
The Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau rejected an objection by Senator Oshiomhole to reverse the ruling, insisting that it came late which is against the rules.
He said: “I’m sorry my former national chairman… you should have called for a divide, it is your right, but we have passed it.”
The upper chamber also commenced the review salaries, allowances and fringe benefits of judicial office holders in Nigeria in a bid to curb bribery and corruption and ensure independence of the judiciary.
