The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill that prescribes the death penalty for individuals convicted of drug trafficking. The bill, which amends the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, was approved during a Senate session on Thursday.
The decision came after Senate Whip Sen. Ali Ndume recommended increasing the penalty from life imprisonment to death. Ndume argued that this would help address the drug problem affecting the country’s youth.
However, some senators, including Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, expressed opposition to the decision. Oshiomhole argued that the matter was too serious to be decided by a voice vote and requested a division of the Senate. Despite his objections, the Senate proceeded with the vote, and the bill was passed.
According to Sen. Mohammed Monguno, the lead chairman of the committees that produced the report, the Senate’s ruling is final, regardless of any opposing views. The bill will now proceed to the next stage of the legislative process.
It’s worth noting that the death penalty is a controversial issue, and its implementation can have significant human rights implications. The Nigerian government’s decision to impose the death penalty for drug trafficking has sparked debate among legal experts, human rights activists, and the general public.
