Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has secured the release of a Nigerian pastor, Benjamin Egbaji, who had been imprisoned in the Republic of Benin under deteriorating health conditions. This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister, Dr Magnus Eze.
Egbaji, a businessman and cleric from Cross River State, regained his freedom on Thursday, January 8, following a presidential pardon granted by Benin Republic’s President, Patrice Talon. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the amnesty, which was gazetted on December 17, 2025, came after sustained diplomatic engagements and pressure from the Nigerian government.The pastor had been detained for over two years on various charges under what Nigerian officials described as dehumanising conditions. At a point, he was reportedly chained to a hospital bed in Cotonou as his health declined, before being transferred to prison custody.
A viral photograph showing Egbaji in chains while receiving medical treatment sparked widespread outrage in Nigeria and prompted immediate diplomatic intervention by the Federal Government. Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu revealed that her office had consistently engaged Beninois authorities on the matter, including a visit to Egbaji at a Cotonou hospital in August 2025. She attributed the breakthrough to President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to citizen diplomacy, a key pillar of Nigeria’s foreign policy under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This development underscores President Tinubu’s strong commitment to citizen diplomacy, which remains a central thrust of the Four-Ds foreign policy approach — Democracy, Demography, Diaspora and Development,” she said. The minister also disclosed that she spoke with Pastor Egbaji shortly after his release and described him as being in high spirits, while stressing the urgent need for proper medical care.“He is grateful and relieved, but his health condition requires immediate and adequate medical attention,” she noted.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier appealed to Beninois authorities to allow Egbaji either receive advanced medical treatment abroad or serve out his custodial sentence in Nigeria, expressing concern over the slow pace of response despite the cordial relationship between both countries. In a letter to Benin Republic’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, Odumegwu-Ojukwu wrote: “It is against this backdrop of solidarity and mutual goodwill that I seek Your Excellency’s kind consideration regarding the plight of a Nigerian national, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, whose health has deteriorated severely while in detention.”
She added that two independent medical experts appointed by the court had recommended that the pastor be transferred abroad for urgent medical care. “In the spirit of our longstanding friendship and in recognition of the humanitarian imperative, we kindly request that Pastor Egbaji be repatriated to Nigeria,” the letter stated.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in Benin Republic, Alhaji Mohammad Munir, commended Odumegwu-Ojukwu for her diplomatic efforts and commitment to the welfare of Nigerians abroad. “The Minister has demonstrated rare dedication to protecting Nigerians in the diaspora,” Munir said.He also praised President Tinubu for prioritising the safety of Nigerians outside the country and called for continued diplomatic efforts to secure the release of innocent Nigerians held in foreign prisons.
Source: https://radionigeria.gov.ng/
