Former Delta State Governor, James Ibori and about 533 Nigerians serving in various prisons across the United Kingdom may be deported to Nigeria to complete their sentences under the UK’s new prisoner transfer agreement, which is currently being discussed.
There are currently 10,786 foreign prisoners in British jails, reduced by just three percent from the 11,135 incarcerated when David Cameron came to power more than three years ago.
We gathered that the transfer agreement which is currently being discussed was sequel to various interactions between the leadership of National Assembly and the Executive arm of government.
According to UK’s Prisons Minister, Jeremy Wright, this number is about half of the 534 Nigerians currently in UK jails, making Nigeria to rank among the top ten countries whose nationals are serving in British jails.
He said, “I am clear that more foreign prisoners must serve their sentences in their own countries. That is why we are currently working with the Nigerian Government on a compulsory prisoner transfer agreement to increase the number of prisoners who are transferred.
“Legislation allowing Nigeria to enter such an arrangement was passed earlier this year by the Nigerian National Assembly. We are now working with them on the text of a final agreement”.
A major stumbling block to deportation of foreign nationals in the past has been the condition of prisons in their own countries, but the UK has promised £1 million (N250 million) to Nigeria to help improve its jails.
Cameron had in 2010 vowed to personally intervene to send more foreign criminals home.
In April 2013, he reaffirmed his commitment, and said, “When people are sent to prison in the UK we should do everything we can to make sure that if they’re foreign nationals, they are sent back to their country to serve their sentence in a foreign prison.
Polish nationals make up the highest foreign contingent in jails in England and Wales, with 829 currently behind bars.
Irish criminals are second with 769, and Jamaica is third with 759.
Romanians, Nigerians, Pakistanis, Indians, Lithuanians, Somalians and Vietnamese make up the rest of the top ten.
