President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a bill to the House of Representatives seeking to strengthen the legal framework for transferring convicted offenders between Nigeria and other countries.
The proposed Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was conveyed in a letter dated October 20, 2026, and read by the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, during plenary on Tuesday.
In the letter, titled Transmission of the Convicted Offenders Enactment and Enforcement Amendment Bill, 2026 for Consideration, Tinubu said the proposal was submitted in line with Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
“Pursuant to Section 58(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I forward herewith the Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) (Amendment) Bill, 2026 for the kind consideration of the House of Representatives,” the President said.
According to Tinubu, the bill seeks to amend the Transfer of Convicted Offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) Act, Cap. T16, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The proposed amendment would provide a legal basis for arrangements allowing convicted offenders to be transferred between Nigeria and other countries.
It would also give effect to provisions contained in any scheme or agreement between the Federal Government and another country concerning the transfer of convicted offenders.
Bill seeks to extend arrangements to non-Commonwealth countries
A key provision of the bill would empower the President to issue an order, published in the Federal Gazette, extending the Act’s application to any country with which Nigeria has reached an agreement on transferring convicted offenders.
The proposed changes also seek to facilitate the implementation of such agreements with countries outside the Commonwealth, expanding the scope of Nigeria’s existing legal framework.
Tinubu urged the House of Representatives to consider the bill expeditiously to enable the proposed amendments to take effect.
The bill has been forwarded to the House for consideration. The report did not specify when lawmakers would conclude deliberations or whether the proposal would be passed.
