The Senate has endorsed an amendment to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment for individuals convicted of storing, transporting, or concealing illicit drugs.
This amendment was approved by the Senate via a voice vote.
This decision follows the recommendation of the House of Representatives, which recently amended the NDLEA law to impose life imprisonment for drug-related offences.
During Thursday’s plenary, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau presided over the session, where the majority of senators supported the harmonised resolution of the two legislative chambers.
Previously, the Senate’s version retained the death penalty, necessitating a reconciliation through a conference committee.
Senator Tahir Monguno, chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, urged the adoption of the House’s stance.
He highlighted that maintaining the death penalty could result in the execution of over 900 inmates currently detained on drug-related charges.
Monguno emphasised that the amended law aims to combat drug trafficking while offering a more humane approach to justice.
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