The Nigerian Senate has decreed death sentence as a penalty for drug peddlers and abusers. The prescription comes on the heels of the passage of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Amendment Bill 2024.
The bill also prescribes up to 15 years imprisonment without a fine for both peddling and consumption of drugs. The bill follows the adoption of Senate Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Drugs and Narcotics on the NDLEA Amendment Act at plenary.
The amendment of the bill seeks to strengthen and empower the operations of the NDLEA. It also seeks to review penalties and improve the authority of the NDLEA to prosecute drug-related offences and issue subsidiary legislation.
The report was presented by the Chairman of the committee, Sen. Mohammed Monguno (APC -Borno).
He said, “These guidelines in drug laws are designed to promote fairness, consistency and proportionality in the criminal justice system while considering the broader goals of rehabilitation and public safety.
“It is also important to note that several variables are used in determining the penalties imposed on a suspect.
“This includes type and quantity of controlled substance, defendant’s criminal history, intent behind drug-related activities, aggravating or mitigating circumstance such as organised crime, violence, use of offensive weapon.
“Others like endangerment of minors can aggravate penalties, conversely mitigating factors like cooperation with law enforcement or lack of prior criminal record may lessen the severity of punishment.”