Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
The Senate has made a dramatic u-turn, reneging on its resolution, which prescribed the death penalty for dealers and importers of cocaine, heroin, and other hard drugs into the country, and adopted “Life Imprisonment” as the punishment.
Lawmakers in the Red Chamber arrived at the decision after they amended Clause 11 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (NDLEA CAP N30) during the consideration of the report of the Conference Committee, led by the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno (former Committee Chairman, NDLEA).
Recall that Senators had, in May, during the Bill’s second reading, adopted capital punishment following a recommendation by Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South), who suggested that the punishment of life imprisonment be “toughened” to the death penalty.
However, due to the divergent resolution of the members of the House of Representatives, who recommended “Life Imprisonment,” the Senate, during the Bill’s Third Reading on Thursday, 6th June 2024, constituted a conference committee to interface with the House with a view to resolving the discrepancies between the Senate and the House versions of the Bill.
Presenting his report during plenary session, Senator Monguno (APC, Borno North) revealed the outcome of the conference committee meeting, co-chaired by Honourable Abbas A. Adigun (PDP, Ibadan North-East/Ibadan South-East).
He said, “We met and discussed that out of 31 clauses of both versions of the Bill passed by the Senate and House respectively, it is only Clause 11 that had variation, hence the need for the conference committee to harmonise it.”
Monguno hinged the committee’s decision on the need to consider the implication of the death penalty on over 50,000 drug offenders who were either convicted or facing trial from 2021 to date.
Additionally, he said that some state governors have refused to sign death warrants for convicted criminals, hence the need to adhere to the global practice of life imprisonment for drug offenders.
In its recommendation, Monguno suggested that the Senate adopt the House version of Clause 11, which recommended “Life Imprisonment for Drug Offenders.”
The Senate, presided over by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, adopted the recommendation of the committee via voice votes after it was put to the question.
According to the Senate’s resolution, Clause 11 now reads as: “Any person who is unlawfully involved in the storage, custody, movement, carriage, or concealment of dangerous drugs or controlled substances and who, while so concerned, is armed with any offensive weapon or is disguised in any way, shall be guilty of an offense under this Bill and liable, on conviction, to be sentenced to Life Imprisonment.”