Senate approves death sentence for drug traffickers

The Nigerian Senate has approved the death sentence as a penalty for drug traffickers in the country.

The historic decision came as the Senate passed the 2024 NDLEA Act (Amendment) Bill through its third reading.

The proposal gained traction on Thursday as the Senate delved into a meticulous clause-by-clause examination of the report presented by Senator Tahir Munguno, Chairman of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters, and Drugs & Narcotics National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

During the review of the penalty provisions aimed at bolstering the agency’s operations, Senator Peter Nwebonyi, the Senate Chief Whip, proposed an amendment to elevate the punishment for drug traffickers from a life sentence to death under clause 11.

Initially met with dissenting voices, the proposal faced a moment of contention during the voting process. Despite an initial indication of disapproval, a subsequent vote favoured the adoption of the amendment, prompting a heated reaction from some lawmakers.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole was among those who voiced dissatisfaction with what he deemed a rushed consideration and passage of the amended clause.

However, the Deputy Senate President rebuffed attempts to reverse the ruling, citing procedural grounds.

In a parallel effort, the Senate also embarked on a comprehensive review of the salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of judicial office holders in Nigeria.

The move, aimed at combating bribery and corruption while safeguarding the judiciary’s independence, saw the executive bill seeking to prescribe remuneration levels for judicial office holders at both federal and state levels advance to the second reading.

While the bill garnered unanimous support, calls were made for a broader review of salaries and remuneration across various sectors in light of prevailing economic challenges.

Consequently, the bill was referred to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters for further scrutiny, with a mandate to report back within four weeks.