The Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has expressed his support for the death penalty for individuals who steal N1 trillion or more in government funds, warning that those who steal one million or one billion should not be killed.
Ndume made this statement during an appearance on Channels TV’s “Politics Today” on Tuesday, while discussing deterrents for those caught with drugs.
Ndume emphasized that corruption in Nigeria is largely driven by the populace, with politicians often distributing stolen funds to gain favor and ensure political longevity.
He argued that while stealing lesser amounts, such as one million or one billion naira, should not warrant the death penalty, embezzling one trillion naira should.
Ndume stated, “If you compare us, politicians, to all the corruption, it is very small. Our corruption is people-driven. If you steal it, you will go and share it with the people. If you don’t, you are not coming back for four years. There is no reason for stealing.
“I have been to the National Assembly, I can’t say because we are on TV now and not telling the truth. If the death penalty is supposed to be included in corruption, I will support it but you don’t go and kill someone that stole one million or one billion, no. But someone who steals one trillion of government money should be killed.
“The death penalty is the best deterrent for those being caught for drugs. If you do drugs, you are killing people.
“That means you have destroyed the lives of so many people and killed so many people,” he added.
Recall that Parallel Facts reported that the Senate recently passed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (Amendment Bill) 2024, which prescribes the death penalty for those found guilty of trading in hard drugs and narcotics.
This legislative move has faced criticism from legal experts and civil society organizations, who argue that it is not the solution to curbing drug trafficking. Instead, they call for enhanced border control and measures to reduce poverty as more effective strategies.
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