The Senate on Wednesday postponed deliberations on a bill seeking to confine life sentences for persons involved in drug-related offences.
The bill, having cleared the third reading in the House of Representatives and now pending Senate concurrence, aims to strengthen NDLEA operations, authorize the establishment of 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.
READ ALSO: House of Reps Reject Bill Requiring Winner of Presidential Poll to Secure Over 50% Votes
The bill additionally stipulates that individuals involved in exporting, transporting, or trafficking drugs will face life imprisonment.
It also suggests a sentence ranging from a minimum of fifteen years to a maximum of 25 years for those who inhale or inject drugs.
Senator Simon Lalong, former Plateau State governor, says in his contribution that the Bill “is timely, as he also raised concern about the need for the classification of offenders based on the quantity of drugs caught with.
Subsequently, the Senate assigned its judiciary and narcotics committee to conduct extensive consultations on the Bill before the next legislative session.
