Marwa seeks strict jail terms without fine options for drug traffickers

By Ebere Agozie

Retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has pleaded with the Chief Judge and Judges of the Federal High Court to always consider strict imprisonment for drug offenders as they do not deserve leniency from the law.

Marwa said this while lamenting that option of fines in convictions for drug offences instead of outright imprisonment has not deterred drug traffickers from the heinous crimes, hence, the rise in the illicit substance abuse.

Marwa spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the unveiling of the National Minimum Standards on the Implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws.

He therefore called for strict jail terms without the option of fines for drug traffickers to serve as a stronger deterrent against illicit drug activities.

Nigeria, he said, has over 10 million cannabis users which according to him, was very worrisome.

“In the last five years, the agency made a seizure of about 15 million kg of assorted illicit substances out of which between 70 and 75 per cent is cannabis.

“This worrisome situation has forced the NDLEA to meet cannabis growers especially in Ondo state to enlighten them to stop growing Indian hemps and embrace legitimate growing of food and cash crops.

“Growing food would make life meaningful to both farmers and the public and the efforts have been yielding fruitful results with positive response from the fields.

Marwa reiterated that hundreds of farmers opting out of cannabis growing would not only have sustainable means of legitimate livelihood, but would no longer live with fear of possible arrest and prosecution by the NDLEA.

He thanked the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for quick responses to NDLEA issues, as well as the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

(NAN)