....pegs 15years imprisonment without option of fine for those who take the drugs
The Senate has pegged death penalty as punishment for those involved in the manufacture, processing of dangerous drugs and those who engage in trafficking of hard drugs in the country for people to consume.
The Senate has also approved fifteen years imprisonment without the option of fine for those who consume the hard drugs in view of the havoc being created by substance and drug abuse in this country which if not nipped in the bud, would have the potential of destroying the future of this country.
Approvals by the Upper Chamber was sequel to the consideration of Report of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters and Drugs & Narcotics on the amendment of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024 (HB. 472) presented by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, APC, Borno North.
According to the Senate, the amendment became very imperative because it is the majority of the youth that are engaged in the drug and substance abuse, sometimes innocently as a result of peer group influence
Prior to the passage, the senate dissolved into a committee of the whole for a clause by clause consideration of the report.
During the review process of the Committee's recommendations and especially with regard to issue of the penalty provisions towards strengthening the operations of the agency, a proposed amendment to award death sentence to drug traffickers rather than just a life sentence was raised by the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, APC, Borno South and the Deputy Whip, Senator Peter Nwebonyi, APC, Ebonyi North under clause 11.
When the matter was put to a voice vote, it appeared the nays had it, however when the question was put for a second vote, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, APC, Kano North who presided ruled in favour of the i’s.
At this point, a slight uproar however ensued, as some lawmakers were clearly displeased, especially, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, APC, Edo North who expressed his displeasure over what he considered a hasty consideration and passage of the amended clause.
Oshiomhole who cautioned the Senate to be careful with any law that deals with life, said, "anything that deals with life, we should be careful."
Barau Jibrin then outrightly rejected the objection raised by Senator Oshiomhole to reverse the ruling, insisting that it came late which is against the rules as a division would have been called for.
The Deputy Senate President who noted that Oshiomhole would have called for a divide, said, “I’m sorry my former national chairman… you should have called for a divide, it is your right, but we have passed it."
Also, Senator Sampson Akpan Ekong, PDP, Akwa Ibom South, tried to come under “personal explanation” to disapprove of the provision, but Jibrin ruled him out of order.
The bill, which originated from the House of Representatives would be sent to President Bola Tinubu for assent if there are no differences between the two chambers of the national assembly.
Addressing Journalists after the Amendment, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno said, "The import of the amendment of the NDLEA act as passes by the Senate today and particularly with regards to the provision for punishment is that the Senate in its wisdom decided to prescribe the punishment of death sentence for people who engage in the manufacturing, processing of hard drugs.
"But for the people that engage in the consumption of these hard drugs the sentence prescribed I think the Senate in its wisdom decided to prescribe death sentence in view of the havoc being created by substance and drug abuse in this country which if not nipped in the bud have the potential of destroying the future of this country because it is the majority of the youth that are engaged in the drug and substance abuse, sometimes innocently as a result of peer group influence.
"The sentence is 15 years imprisonment without the option of fine. That is what the Senate did but as I said earlier on in the senate this harsh punishment was prescribed to nip in the bud these scenario of substance and drug abuse that has the potential the future of our youths and the future of this country the youths are the future leaders of tomorrow."
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