Senate Steps Down Bill Seeking Life Sentence For Drug Offenses

The Senate on Wednesday stepped down a bill seeking to confine to life sentence persons involved in drug-related offenses.

The bill which has passed the third reading in the House of Representatives and awaiting concurrence of the Senate seeks to Strengthen The Operations of the NDLEA, Empower the Agency To establish Laboratories, and Update the List of Dangerous Drugs

Presenting the proposed amendment for consideration, leader of the senate Opeyemi Bamidele says the bill will further review Penalty Provisions and enhance the power of the agency to prosecute drug-related Offences

The bill proposes that, any person who without lawful authority- imports, manufactures, processes, plants, or grows drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin, or any other similar drugs shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life.

The bill further states that exporters, transporters or traffickers of drugs shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life

It further stipulates imprisonment for life for anyone who sells, buys, exposes, or offers for sale or deals in drugs

It also proposes a term not less than fifteen years but not exceeding 25 years for inhaling or injecting drugs.

“Persons who unlawfully permit or use premises for the storing, concealing, processing or dealing in the drug will be liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 25 years”

Former Plateau State governor, Senator Simon Lalong in his contribution says the Bill “is timely, as he also raised concern on the need for the classification of offenders based on the quantity of drugs caught with

Senator Lalong disclosed that the Drug Barons are patronized by high-class individuals in the society.

He called for a holistic approach in tackling the menace

The Senate thereafter tasked its committee on judiciary and narcotics to ensure wide consultation on the Bill ahead of the next legislative day.