Senate Debates New Law To Allow Nigerian Convicts In Diaspora Serve At Home!

The Senate has commenced the amendment of one of Nigerian convicts laws that will enforce the transfer of Nigerian prisoners from Commonwealth nations to do their time at home.

A proposal to amend the transfer of convicted offenders (Enactment and Enforcement) Act was read the first time on Tuesday amid reports of increasing number of Nigerians serving sentences in many countries.

A senator, Benedict Ayade, said the number in United Kingdom alone is about 16,400, adding that the UK government spends 1.6 million pounds to feed the Nigerians a day.

The figure alarmed the lawmakers, who pressed for a quick passage of the bill."I am shocked to hear that there are 16,400 Nigerians in various prisons abroad," said Senate President David Mark. "This is a thing not to be proud of. We don't know the authenticity of the figure, but it is cause for concern.

The lesson is that we should improve our prisons for the purpose of reformation. It is not right to transfer the responsibility of reformation to other nations."

He added that the bill seeks to amend the provisions of the extant act by removing the consent and verification procedure of returning convicted prisoners to serve out their term in Nigeria.

The senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, who sponsored the bill, said the effort is to give effect to the Commonwealth policy allowing transfer of convicted offenders between member nations.

He said the current act is replete with openings that makes enforcement difficult thereby requiring a review. For instance, he cited section 5(1)(d) and Section 8 of the Nigeria Constitution, which requires the consent of the convicted offender for such transfer is effected.

He said the amendments are in consonance with international best practices and support the spirit behind the Commonwealth policy on convicted offenders.

But some lawmakers opposed the passage of the bill arguing that its passage will raise the financial obligation of the government who will need more budgets to cater for the returnees.

The bill has been referred to Committee on Judiciary, Human Right and Legal Matter when it is constituted and will have to pass a second third reading and concurrence by the House of Representatives to become law.

SOURCE