Section 16: Diversion of dangerous drugs

(1)
No person shall, except under the authority of a diversion certificate as in Form E in the Schedule to this Act, cause or procure any dangerous drug brought into Nigeria in transit to be diverted to any destination other than that to which it was originally consigned and in the case of any drug in transit accompanied by an export authorisation or a diversion certificate issued by a competent authority of some other country, the country to which the drug was originally consigned shall be deemed to be the country stated in such export authorisation or diversion certificate to be the country of destination.
[Form E. Schedule.]
(2)
The Comptroller-General of the Customs Services may in his absolute discretion issue a diversion certificate in respect of any dangerous drug in transit upon production to him of a valid and subsisting import certificate issued by a competent authority in the country to which it is proposed to divert the drug, or if that country is not a party to the Convention upon such evidence as may satisfy him that the drug is to be sent in a lawful manner and for a proper purpose.
(3) A diversion certificate shall be issued in duplicate; one copy thereof shall accompany the drug when it is exported from Nigeria and another copy shall be dispatched by the Comptroller-General of the Customs Services direct to the proper authority in the country to which the consignment has been diverted.
(4) Upon the issue of a diversion certificate, the export authorisation or diversion certificate (if any) accompanying the drug on its arrival in Nigeria, shall be detained by the Comptroller-General of the Customs Services and returned to the authority issuing such authorisation or diversion certificate, together with a notification of the name of the country to which such drug has been diverted.