UK Promises N262M For Nigerian Prisons, To Repatriate Ibori, Others

The British Government will provide Nigeria with one million British pounds (about N260 million) to help the country reform its prisons. Also, according to the agreement signed by the United Kingdom and Nigeria, citizens of one country who commit crimes in the other will serve sentences in their respective homeland.

Mr. Jeremy Wright, UK's Minister of Justice, revealed the news during his visit to the Nigerian Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, on Thursday.

Minister Jeremy Wright said removing foreign national offenders is a key priority for the British government, and noted that "strong ties and shared interests" between the two countries should help in developing the mutual arrangements.

"I strongly believe that this agreement will have significant benefits for both our countries," the British Minister said.

On his part, Comrade Abba Moro said,

"I think that it is in the mutual interest of the two countries that the agreement reached should be implemented to the letter especially with the kind of traditional historical relationship that Nigeria shares with the United Kingdom, we have no reason to say one thing and do another.

"This government anchored on transformation, is desirous of ensuring that we do things very differently from the way we were doing things in the past which have not given us results," Mr. Moro said.

There are over 500 Nigerians serving jail terms in the UK, while one Briton is imprisoned in Nigeria. Thus, former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, would be repatriated to Nigerian prison.

It is expected the first prisoner transfers will take place before the end of this year.

Source: Legit.ng