Tinubu Seeks Senate Approval to Expand Transfer of Convicted Offenders Agreements

President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a bill to the Senate seeking to amend Nigeria’s law on the transfer of convicted offenders, with a view to enabling the country to implement prisoner-transfer agreements with countries outside the Commonwealth.

The proposed Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) Amendment Bill, 2026, seeks to amend the existing Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) Act, Cap. T16, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The President’s letter was read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.

In the letter, Tinubu urged lawmakers to consider the proposed amendment expeditiously, saying it would provide a legal framework for implementing agreements between Nigeria and other countries on the transfer of convicted persons.

According to the President, the proposed legislation would allow the Federal Government to enter into arrangements with foreign governments for convicted offenders to serve their sentences in another country under agreed conditions.

The framework would also enable Nigeria to respond to similar requests from other governments, subject to the terms of the relevant agreements.

Proposed Amendment Targets Non-Commonwealth Countries

A key provision of the bill would empower the President to extend the application of the law to countries with which Nigeria has entered into relevant prisoner-transfer agreements through an order published in the Federal Gazette.

The proposed change is intended to facilitate the implementation of such agreements with countries outside the Commonwealth, broadening the range of international arrangements available to Nigeria.

Prisoner-transfer agreements generally establish the legal and administrative conditions under which a convicted person may serve a sentence in another country.

Such arrangements may enable eligible prisoners to serve their sentences closer to their home country, but transfers depend on the applicable legal framework and the conditions agreed upon by the countries involved.

The proposed amendment would not automatically guarantee that every Nigerian convicted abroad could be transferred home. Eligibility and other requirements would depend on the relevant agreements and applicable procedures.

Senate Refers Bill for Consideration

Following the presentation of Tinubu’s letter, Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative consideration.

The proposal must pass through the National Assembly’s legislative process before any amendment can take effect.

The President transmitted the bill pursuant to Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which provides for the presidential role in the legislative process.

Reports published on Tuesday also indicated that the President had forwarded the proposed amendment to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The proposed legislation comes amid cases of Nigerians convicted and imprisoned in foreign jurisdictions. However, the bill does not itself order the transfer of any named prisoner.

Its eventual effect will depend on the final wording approved by lawmakers, the completion of the legislative process and the agreements Nigeria may conclude with other countries.