Tinubu Seeks Senate Amendment to Prisoner-Transfer Law
President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to amend Nigeria’s law on the transfer of convicted offenders to enable the country to implement prisoner-transfer agreements with nations outside the Commonwealth.
The President transmitted the Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) Amendment Bill, 2026, to the Senate for consideration. Senate President Godswill Akpabio read Tinubu’s letter during plenary on Tuesday.
In the correspondence, Tinubu urged lawmakers to expedite consideration of the proposed amendment.
The bill seeks to amend the Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) Act, Cap. T16, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The existing law largely applies to Commonwealth countries, limiting Nigeria’s ability to implement transfer arrangements with other nations.
The proposed amendment would provide a legal framework for agreements between the Federal Government and any other country on the transfer of convicted offenders.
A key provision would empower the President to extend the application of the Act to countries with which Nigeria has entered into relevant agreements through an order published in the Federal Gazette.
If passed, the legislation would create a pathway for Nigerians convicted abroad to serve their sentences in Nigeria and for foreign nationals convicted in Nigeria to be transferred to their home countries, subject to the terms of applicable agreements.
Tinubu wrote: “While it is my hope that the Senate will consider this submission expeditiously, please accept, Distinguished Senate President and Distinguished Senators, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
The bill was referred for further legislative processing following its presentation.
By Oyinkansola Shittu.
