The bill seeking to impose a death penalty on those convicted of drug trafficking has passed the third reading at the senate.
The upper legislative chamber passed the bill on Thursday
after Tahir Monguno, senator representing Borno north, presented a report on
behalf of the joint committees on judiciary and drugs and narcotics.
While presenting the report, Monguno said there is a need to
strengthen the war against drugs in the country.
After the report was presented, the senate went into the
“committee of the whole” to consider clauses of the bill where some senators
disagreed with the death sentence.
When put to a voice vote, Barau Jibrin, deputy senate
president, gave it to the “ayes”.
Thereafter, Adams Oshiomhole, a senator representing Edo
north, said the senate should be careful with any law that deals with life.
“Anything that deals with life, we should be careful,”
Oshiomhole said.
Responding, Jibrin said Oshiomhole should have called for a
divide.
“I’m sorry my former national chairman… you should have
called for a divide, it is your right, but we have passed it,” the deputy
senate president said.
Also, Akpan Ekong, senator representing Akwa Ibom south,
tried to come under “personal explanation” to disapprove of the provision, but
Jibrin ruled him out of order.
The bill, which originated from the house of representatives,
will be sent to the president for assent if there are no differences between
the two chambers of the national assembly.
If there are differences, the two chambers will set up a
conference committee to harmonise the grey areas before it is sent for assent.
In recent times, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) has been making substantial seizures of substances ranging from
cannabis to opioids from suspected traffickers.
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What about corrupt politicians. Useless people.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been good if politicians who looted national treasury to face the same fate. More so, police officers, customs, Army and other security personnel have to follow suit. If death penalty is not melted on these groups of citizens, Nigeria will continue to be in darkness. Because, they plunged the country into poverty and famine. Officials who benefit from immunity should henceforth face prosecution if they are convicted of corruption or money laundering. Nigeria can not continue like this, the situation is so hopeless that people are dying everyday because they can’t afford to eat food.
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