Section 20 NDLEA Act

Section 20 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act 1989 is about Offences in relation to drug abuse and penalties. It provides as follows:

(1) Any person who, without lawful authority (the proof of which shall lie on him)
commits any of the following offences, that is to say-

(a) engages in the production, manufacture, extraction, preparation, offering for
sale, distribution, sale, delivery on any terms whatsoever, brokerage, dispatch,
dispatch in transit, transportation, importation or exportation of any narcotic
drug or any psychotropic substance contrary to the provisions of the 1961
Convention and its Protocols, or the 1971 Convention Against Illicit Traffic in
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 1989;

(b) engages in the cultivation of opium, opium poppy, coca bush or cannabis plant for the purpose of the production of narcotic drugs contrary to the 196 I Convention;

(c) has in his possession or engages or purchases any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance for the purpose of any of the activities enumerated in paragraph (a) of this subsection;

(d) engages in the acquisition, possession or use of property knowing at the time
of acquisition, possession or use that such property was derived from any offence referred to in this section;
[Second Schedule.]

(e) engages in the possession of equipment or material or substance listed in the
Second Schedule of this Act knowing that such equipment, material or substance are to be used in or for the illicit cultivation, production or manufacture
of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances;

(f) engages in the manufacture, transportation or distribution of equipment, materials or of any substance listed in the Second Schedule to this Act knowing that such equipment, material or substance are to be used in or for the illicit cultivation, production or manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances;

[Second Schedule.]
(g) engages in the management, organisation or financing of any of the offences
under paragraphs (a) to if> of this subsection;
[1992 No. 15.]

(h) engages in the conversion or transfer of property knowing that such property is derived from any offence under this subsection;

(i) engages in the concealment or disguise of the true nature, source, location,
disposition, movement, rights with respect to or ownership of property knowing that such property is derived from any offence referred to in this section, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and subject to the provisions of subsection (3)
of this section, be liable on conviction to the penalties provided in subsection (2) of this section.

(2) The penalties for offences under subsection (I) of this section shall-
(a) in respect of an offence under paragraphs (a), (b), (d), (e), (j) and (h), be imprisonment for life;

(b) in respect of offences under paragraphs (c), (g) and (i), be imprisonment for a
term not less than fifteen years and not exceeding 25 years.

(3) The Federal High Court before whom an accused in being convicted may in addition to the punishment prescribed in subsection (2) of this section, make an order requiring an offender to undergo measures such as treatment, education, aftercare, rehabilitation or social reintegration.

(4) Notwithstanding subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the Federal High Court before whom a minor is being convicted may, in an appropriate case, make an order as the circumstances may determine-