MARK, AONDOAKAA ADVOCATE 15-YR JAIL TERM FOR DRUG CONVICTS

PRESIDENT of the Senate, Senator David Mark and the Attorney General
of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoaka
(SAN), have called for 15 years minimum jail term for drug offenders
in the country.

They made the call in Abuja at a ceremony to round off this year's
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug trafficking.

Mark, who was the special guest of honour, also requested for five
minutes silence as a mark of respect and honour for officials of the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) who died in the line of duty.

While decrying the "embarrassing searches some Nigerians are
subjected to at international airports in foreign countries," the
Senator Mark blamed it on some citizens that traffic in narcotics.

According to Mark, "some Nigerians have been subjected to
embarrassing searches by law enforcement agents in the past because
they were carrying Nigerian international passports; but if some of
our citizens were not trafficking in illicit drugs, this will not be the case."

Mark pledged further legislative support to the NDLEA, particularly
in the aspect of increased funding to enable it prosecute the war
against drug trafficking.