Nigeria and Ethiopia have signed a Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement aimed at allowing convicted citizens of either country to serve the remainder of their prison terms in their home nation, subject to agreed legal conditions.
The agreement was signed in Addis Ababa by Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and Ethiopia’s Minister of Justice, Hanna Arayaselassie. The signing was facilitated by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Gideon Timothewos.
Speaking at the ceremony, Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the agreement as a significant step rooted in “humanity, justice and international cooperation.” She said the framework would enable sentenced persons who are nationals of either country to be transferred home to complete their jail terms, helping their rehabilitation through family support, language familiarity and cultural integration.
The minister said the agreement reflects the shared commitment of both countries to a more humane justice system that balances punishment with rehabilitation and reintegration. She added that the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad remain a key priority of the Nigerian government under its citizen-centred foreign policy.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu noted that the pact would strengthen consular cooperation and deepen bilateral relations between the two African nations. “This Agreement is also a testament to the growing depth of cooperation between Nigeria and Ethiopia,” she said, citing existing collaboration in trade, aviation, security, migration management and regional peace initiatives.
The foreign minister also disclosed plans to visit Kaliti and Aba Samuel prisons in Ethiopia, where more than 100 Nigerians, including four women, are currently incarcerated. She expressed concern that four Nigerian inmates had died during the lengthy negotiation and ratification process leading to the agreement.
“We cannot afford to lose any more precious lives. We are determined to bring home the living,” she said.
Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Gideon Timothewos, welcomed the agreement and said the long-standing relationship between both countries, spanning more than six decades, should be strengthened through continued consultation and cooperation on issues of mutual interest.
Officials from both countries expressed optimism that the agreement would be implemented immediately in line with their respective national laws and international obligations.
