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 non-Commonwealth nations.
The President’s request is contained in the Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) Amendment Bill, 2026, which was transmitted to the Senate for consideration.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, read Tinubu’s letter during Tuesday’s plenary.
In the letter, the President urged the lawmakers to give the proposed legislation expeditious consideration, expressing hope that it would receive prompt attention.
The bill seeks to amend the Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) Act, Cap. T16, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to provide a legal framework for implementing agreements between Nigeria and other countries on the transfer of convicted persons.
Under the proposed amendment, the President would be empowered 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.
The proposed change is intended to remove the limitations affecting the implementation of prisoner-transfer arrangements with countries outside the Commonwealth, subject to the terms of the relevant agreements.
Prisoner-transfer agreements allow convicted persons to serve their sentences in another country under mutually agreed conditions. Such arrangements may facilitate the transfer of eligible prisoners to their home countries while ensuring that the terms of their sentences are respected.
The proposed amendment would, however, require approval by the National Assembly before it could become law.
In his appeal to the Senate, 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 President transmitted the bill in accordance with Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which provides for the presentation of proposed legislation to the National Assembly.
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