* President transmits modification invoice to Senate, seeks framework for prisoner transfers beneath bilateral agreements
* Senate orders probe of journey companies over suspected human trafficking networks in Libya
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has requested the Senate to amend the regulation governing the switch of convicted offenders, in search of to empower Nigeria to enter into agreements with overseas governments to allow eligible Nigerians convicted overseas to serve their jail sentences at residence.
The proposed laws, generally known as the Transfer of Convicted Offenders Enactment and Enforcement Amendment Bill 2026, seeks to amend the Transfer of Convicted Offenders Enactment and Enforcement Act, Cap 216, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Tinubu transmitted the invoice to the Senate in a letter learn by Senate President Godswill Akpabio throughout plenary on Tuesday.
The president defined that the proposed modification would offer a authorized framework for Nigeria to enter into agreements with different nations for the switch of convicted offenders, whereas additionally enabling the nation to honour comparable requests from overseas governments beneath mutually agreed situations.
In the letter, Tinubu stated the invoice sought to give impact to agreements between Nigeria and different nations on the switch of convicted individuals.
He said: “The Transfer of Convicted Offenders Enactment and Enforcement Amendment Bill 2026 seeks to amend the Transfer of Convicted Offenders Enactment and Enforcement Act, Act Cap 216, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004, to give effect to the provisions of any scheme or agreement for the transfer of convicted offenders between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the government of any other country.”
The president additional defined that the proposed modification would empower him to lengthen the appliance of the regulation to nations with which Nigeria had entered into related agreements by way of an order revealed within the Federal Gazette.
According to him, the supply would facilitate the implementation of prisoner-transfer preparations, significantly with nations outdoors the Commonwealth.
After studying the president’s letter, Akpabio referred the invoice to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for additional legislative consideration.
The proposed modification comes amid a number of high-profile instances involving Nigerians convicted by overseas courts, together with former public officers and political figures.
Among them is former Delta State Governor James Ibori, who was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment within the United Kingdom in 2012 after pleading responsible to money-laundering offences. He was launched in 2016.
Former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu was sentenced to 9 years and eight months’ imprisonment within the UK in 2023 over his function in an organ-trafficking conspiracy involving a younger man.
Similarly, Abidemi Rufai, a former aide to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, was sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment within the United States in 2022 for wire fraud and aggravated id theft.
Nigeria and the United Kingdom have already got a prisoner-transfer association that enables eligible prisoners to serve their sentences of their residence nations, topic to relevant authorized necessities and the settlement of each governments.
The proposed modification seeks to strengthen the home authorized framework for implementing comparable preparations with nations outdoors the Commonwealth.
However, the proposed laws wouldn’t mechanically entitle each Nigerian convicted overseas to return residence to serve a sentence. Any switch would rely on the phrases of the related settlement, the eligibility of the prisoner and the relevant authorized situations.
Meanwhile, the Senate has directed a complete investigation into suspected human-trafficking networks and journey companies allegedly linked to the trafficking, exploitation and abuse of Nigerians in Libya.
The decision adopted the adoption of a report on the pressing want to shield Nigerians from trafficking, slavery and different human rights abuses within the North African nation.
Presenting the report on behalf of the joint committees on Diaspora, Judiciary, Foreign Affairs and Special Duties, Senator Anthony Yaro, representing Gombe South, stated the committees had consulted related stakeholders, obtained memoranda and examined the circumstances surrounding the abuses earlier than making their suggestions.
He stated the suggestions have been designed to strengthen Nigeria’s institutional response to human trafficking, enhance the safety of victims and disrupt legal networks answerable for exploiting weak Nigerians.
The movement for the consideration and adoption of the report obtained the help of Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central.
In its resolutions, the Senate referred to as for stronger enforcement of present anti-trafficking legal guidelines, elevated funding for the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and different related companies, and a complete investigation into suspected trafficking networks and their related journey companies.
The lawmakers additionally referred to as for the institution of a nationwide reintegration and safety programme for returning victims of trafficking.
They really useful that the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons coordinate the programme in collaboration with NAPTIP and different related establishments to be certain that returning victims obtained applicable safety and help.
The Senate additional urged the Federal Government to intensify diplomatic engagement with Libya by way of bilateral and multilateral channels to fight trafficking and promote secure and authorized migration.
Contributing to the talk, Senator Neda Imasuen, representing Edo South, stated the nation’s main problem was not the absence of legal guidelines towards human trafficking however the failure to implement present laws successfully and maintain offenders accountable.
Imasuen’s place underscored considerations in regards to the hole between Nigeria’s authorized framework and the efficient prosecution of people and networks concerned in trafficking and exploitation.
In his remarks, Akpabio referred to as for stronger deterrent measures towards perpetrators of significant crimes, arguing that legal guidelines should carry ample penalties to discourage legal conduct.
Recalling his tenure as governor of Akwa Ibom State, the Senate president stated he had signed an anti-kidnapping regulation prescribing the dying penalty and the forfeiture of property the place a kidnapped sufferer was discovered.
He additionally advocated a strict Know-Your-Tenant coverage, arguing that landlords ought to have the option to present details about their tenants when crimes have been dedicated.
Akpabio warned that landlords who failed to present related info might face questions over their doable complicity in legal actions.
As a part of its resolutions, the Senate directed NAPTIP to work with the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to examine recognized journey companies.
The companies are anticipated to interrogate their administrators, officers and brokers to set up the extent of their involvement, if any, in recruitment networks, monetary transactions and journey preparations linked to the trafficking and exploitation of Nigerians overseas.
The investigation is anticipated to assist establish the people and organisations facilitating the motion of victims, expose the monetary channels sustaining trafficking operations and strengthen measures to stop additional exploitation.
The Senate’s resolutions additionally positioned renewed emphasis on sufferer safety, the reintegration of returning Nigerians and diplomatic cooperation with Libya, alongside stronger regulation enforcement towards suspected traffickers.
