HC Deb 04 July 1957 vol 572 cc1277-8
10. Mr. C. Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider the advisability of transferring Benedict Obibine, who was sentenced to fourteen years' imprisonment at the Old Bailey on 21st June, to Nigeria to serve his sentence.

Mr. R. A. Butler

This man has applied to the Court of Criminal Appeal for leave to appeal against his conviction and I cannot therefore comment on the case; but, in any event, I have no power to adopt the course which the hon. Member suggests.

Mr. Hughes

Are there not extraordinary circumstances surrounding this case, and is it not the fact that this man appears to be suffering from very strange delusions? Whatever the result of the appeal may be, could not the right hon. Gentleman arrange for the man to be properly examined by psychiatrists with a view to his transfer to Nigeria which, on the face of it at least, would appear to be the humane thing to do in this case?

Mr. Butler

As to the merits of the case, I cannot comment because the man has applied for leave to appeal. In the case of the powers given me by Parliament, I have only the Colonial Prisoners' Removal Act, 1884, and that gives power to transfer a prisoner from a Colony to the United Kingdom or from one colony to another, but not from the United Kingdom to a Colony.