The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has urged the House of Representatives to vote down the proposed death penalty bill for drug offenders.
The UNODC further slammed the National Assembly over the proposal for death penalty for drug offenders, saying the bill made no sense.
The Senate, it will be recalled, passed the bill which now awaits a concurrence by the House of Representatives before bringing it to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
The UNODC Representative in Nigeria, Oliver Stolpe made the call in Abuja on Tuesday, during the 2024 Media Personnel Training on Anti-corruption, Police Accountability, Wildlife Crime and Sensitisation on Drugs and Drug Prevention, Treatment and Care.
The event was co-organised by the UNODC and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to train journalists on drug-related crimes, offences, and rehabilitation reporting.
Stolpe said, “Yes, on the death sentence for drug traffickers as it is proposed at this stage by the Senate, and you’re all aware of the legislative process – it needs now to go back to the House.
“We are expecting the House (of Representatives) to vote this down. Our stance at the UN is clear on the death penalty, we’re principally and categorically against it. And from a very practical viewpoint, I have to say, it doesn’t make sense.”
This is coming four days after the House of Representatives said it would approve the death penalty for hard drug dealers and peddlers when the bill arrives at its chamber from the Senate for concurrence.https://punchng.com/reps-back-senate-on-death-penalty-for-drug-dealers/
The Senate had during plenary approved the death penalty for dealers and importers of cocaine, heroin, and other hard drugs into the country.
The proposed capital punishment also applies to manufacturers and traffickers in or delivery of hard drugs by any means.
SOURCE: Punch