Rep Agboworin Presents NASS Conference Committee on Amendment of NDLEA Act, Okays Life Sentence for Offenders

The House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs, has presented the report of the Conference Committee on the Bill seeking the amendment of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, Cap. N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and for Related Matters.

Chairman of the Committee and member representing Ibadan South East/North East federal constituency, Hon. Abbas Adigun Agboworin laid the report before the House during plenary on Thursday, which was presided by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu.

This followed an amendment effected on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act resulting into harmonisation of the conference committee of the two chambers of the National Assembly on Section 11 of the NDLEA Act.

The House had earlier passed an amendment prescribing life imprisonment for drug traffickers, whereas the Senate version recommended the death penalty for offenders.

But last Thursday, the Senate agreed with the recommendations of the House of Representatives for commuting the death sentence penalty for persons found guilty of storing, moving or concealing hard drugs and other illicit substances to life imprisonment.

The Conference Committee report is a significant step towards resolving the discrepancies and finalizing the amendment.

The amendment aims to strengthen the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, which is a critical legislation in Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking and abuse.

With the amendment, the section now reads “Anybody who is unlawfully involved in the storage, custody, movement, carriage or concealment of dangerous drugs or controlled substances and who, while so involved is armed with any offensive weapon or is disguised in anyway, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act, and liable on conviction to be sentenced to life imprisonment.”