By Divine Sam.

President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a bill seeking to amend Nigeria’s law on the transfer of convicted offenders to the Senate for consideration.

The proposed legislation is aimed at enabling Nigeria to implement prisoner-transfer agreements with countries outside the Commonwealth, while strengthening the legal framework for transferring convicted persons between Nigeria and other nations.

The letter transmitting the Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) Amendment Bill, 2026, was read during Tuesday’s plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

In the correspondence, Tinubu appealed to the lawmakers to give the bill expeditious consideration, expressing hope that it would receive prompt legislative 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 facilitate the implementation of agreements between the Federal Government and other countries on the transfer of convicted offenders.

According to the President, the proposed amendment is intended to give effect to any scheme or agreement reached between Nigeria and the government of another country regarding the transfer of convicted persons.

One of the key provisions 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.

Tinubu said the amendment would establish the legal basis for implementing prisoner-transfer agreements with countries outside the Commonwealth, potentially expanding Nigeria’s options for negotiating and enforcing such arrangements.

Under the existing law, provisions are already in place to govern the transfer of convicted offenders. However, the proposed amendment seeks to make it easier to apply such arrangements beyond Commonwealth countries, subject to agreements with the relevant governments.

Prisoner-transfer agreements generally allow convicted persons to serve their sentences in another country under mutually agreed conditions, while providing a legal framework for addressing the administrative and legal issues involved in moving offenders between jurisdictions.

The proposed amendment will, however, have to pass through the National Assembly’s legislative process before it can become law.

Urging the Senate to act promptly, 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 transmitted to the Senate in line with Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which outlines the President’s role in the legislative process.