By Opeyemi Adelakun
President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to amend Nigeria’s prisoner-transfer law to facilitate agreements with countries outside the Commonwealth.
The President transmitted the Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) Amendment Bill, 2026, to the upper chamber for consideration, seeking a broader legal basis for transferring convicted persons between Nigeria and other countries.
The letter was read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary, with Tinubu appealing to lawmakers to fast-track consideration of the proposal.
The bill seeks to amend the existing Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) Act, Cap. T16, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
A key provision would empower the President to extend the application of the law to countries with which Nigeria has reached relevant prisoner-transfer agreements. Such an extension would be made through an order published in the Federal Gazette.
According to the President, the amendment would enable the Federal Government to give effect to agreements governing the transfer of convicted offenders with other countries, including those outside the Commonwealth.
Prisoner-transfer arrangements establish conditions under which convicted persons may serve their sentences in another jurisdiction. Any transfer would be subject to the terms of the relevant agreement and applicable legal requirements.
Tinubu urged the Senate to consider the proposal without undue delay.
“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,” he said in the letter.
The proposed legislation was transmitted under Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
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