President Tinubu Rejects NDLEA Amendment Bill Over Legal Concerns

In a significant development from the legislative arm of Nigeria’s government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially withheld his assent from the recently proposed NDLEA Amendment Bill 2025, which was passed by the National Assembly earlier this year.

The proposed legislation sought to grant the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) the authority to retain a percentage of financial proceeds derived from drug-related crimes. This provision, however, appears to conflict with Nigeria’s current legal framework governing the management of confiscated assets.

This decision was formally conveyed to members of the House of Representatives during Thursday’s plenary session, as read aloud by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.

Tinubu’s Constitutional Reference

President Tinubu, referencing Section 58, Subsection 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, explained that approving such a bill would amount to violating existing constitutional provisions. The President emphasized that all proceeds derived from illicit activities or crimes, including drug trafficking, must be fully deposited into the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account as stipulated by existing laws.

Executive Oversight on Disbursements

According to Tinubu’s explanation, no agency—including the NDLEA—can independently retain funds from crime-related proceeds. Instead, disbursement of such funds must be conducted through the direct approval of the President, and only with the express consent of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the National Assembly.

This move underscores the administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and adherence to legal due process, particularly in matters involving financial forfeitures and asset recovery.