President Bola Tinubu has declined to sign the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Amendment Bill, 2025, recently passed by the National Assembly.
In a letter addressed to the Senate and read during plenary on Wednesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu cited constitutional grounds for his decision, referencing Section 58, Subsection 4 of the 1999 Constitution.
The President explained that the primary reason for withholding assent is that the bill proposes granting the NDLEA the power to retain a portion of the proceeds from drug-related crimes, a departure from the current legal framework.
He clarified that under existing law, all proceeds from crime must be deposited into the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account.
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He added that any disbursement to relevant agencies involved in recoveries must be made by the President, and only with the approval of the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly.
President Tinubu emphasized that there is no compelling justification to alter the current process, which ensures transparency and accountability in the management of recovered assets.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
