Nigerian citizens in UK who go foul of UK laws, if arrainged and convicted, will now have to serve their sentences in Nigeria.
In a new compulsory Prisoner Transfer Agreement, the government of United Kingdom and their Nigerian counterpart will now work together, as indicated in 2011 in a joint communiqué issued following meeting between President Jonathan and Prime Minister Cameron.
A statement issued today by UK in Nigeria said the Agreement will allow Nigerians who commit crimes in the United Kingdom to serve their sentences in Nigeria while Britons who commit crimes in Nigeria, will have to serve their sentences in UK.
It said this is to allow be properly prepared for release and reintegration into the community in which they will live following their release.
UK In Nigeria said "Both the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the United Kingdom have in place prisoner transfer arrangements with a number of other countries. The signature of this Agreement builds on the already close links between the two countries in the criminal justice field."
Implementation of the agreement is expected to state immediately and the first prisoners will be transferred before the end of 2014.
The Compulsory Prisoner Transfer Agreement between the United Kingdom and several other countries is expected to be an answer to the difficulty involved in deporting foreign criminals from the UK after serving their sentences as they fight deportation.
The Agreement signed in Abuja Federal Capital Terrory, Nigeria was executed by Jeremy Wright, UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice and Mohammed Bello Adoke, Nigerian Attorney-General - pictured shaking hands.
Jeremy Wright, said "Removing foreign national offenders is a key priority for the British Government and the prisoner transfer agreement I signed this morning with the Nigerian Attorney-General plays a significant role in supporting this."
He said "Both the United Kingdom and Nigeria have prisoner transfer arrangements with other countries and it is right that our two countries, which have such strong ties and shared interests, should develop our own arrangements. I strongly believe that this Agreement will have significant benefits for both our countries."
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* Image by UK in Nigeria: UK in Nigeria is a department of the British High Commission Abuja, Nigeria.
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