President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declined assent to the amended National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Bill, citing objections to a controversial clause relating to the management of proceeds from drug-related crimes.
Presidency sources confirmed on Wednesday that the President returned the bill to the National Assembly, raising constitutional and procedural concerns—particularly about the section that empowers the NDLEA to seize, manage, and dispose of assets without adequate judicial oversight.
According to the President’s communication to lawmakers, the clause could conflict with existing laws governing asset forfeiture and may infringe on the rights of accused persons before due legal process is concluded.
“The President supports strengthening the NDLEA but insists that such powers must be exercised within the bounds of the constitution and existing anti-corruption frameworks,” said a senior administration official who requested anonymity.
The rejected bill, which recently passed both chambers of the National Assembly, sought to grant the NDLEA wider powers in investigating drug trafficking and handling proceeds of narcotics-related offences.
Legal experts have warned that allowing the agency to take control of assets pre-judgment could open the door to rights abuses and legal conflicts with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Senate sources say the legislature may now initiate a review of the bill to address the President’s concerns and ensure compliance with existing laws.
The development marks one of the first major legislative pushbacks by the Tinubu administration, which has publicly backed anti-drug efforts but signaled a preference for tighter legal checks on enforcement powers.
