Tinubu needs new legislation to maneuver Nigerian convicts overseas, overseas counterparts residence

President Bola Tinubu forwarded to the Senate Tuesday , an govt invoice to amend Nigeria’s prisoner switch legislation to permit convicted offenders to be moved between Nigeria and non-Commonwealth nations.

The request is contained within the Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) Amendment Bill, 2026, transmitted to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Tinubu forwarded the invoice pursuant to Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution and urged the Senate to think about it expeditiously.

The invoice seeks to amend Cap. T16, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to provide authorized impact to prisoner-transfer agreements signed between Nigeria and different nations.

At current, the Act primarily covers Commonwealth nations, limiting Nigeria’s skill to implement switch offers with non-Commonwealth nations.

The modification would empower the President to increase the Act to any nation with which Nigeria has a switch settlement by an order printed within the Federal Gazette.

If handed, it will create a authorized pathway for Nigerians convicted overseas to serve their sentences at residence, and for overseas nationals convicted in Nigeria to be transferred to their residence nations.

“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,” Tinubu wrote.

The Senate President referred the request to the Committee on Legislative Compliance for additional legislative course of and to report again in a single week.