Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has facilitated the release of a Nigerian cleric, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, who had been detained in the Republic of Benin for over two years.
Pastor Egbaji, a businessman and religious leader from Cross River State, was freed on Thursday following a presidential pardon granted by Beninois President Patrice Talon. The pardon, gazetted in December 2025, followed months of sustained diplomatic engagement by the Nigerian government.
The cleric had been imprisoned over allegations of various offences and was initially held in a Cotonou hospital under conditions officials described as degrading, before being transferred to a correctional facility. His case drew widespread attention after images showing him visibly ill and restrained to a hospital bed circulated publicly, prompting outrage and diplomatic intervention.
In a statement issued by her media aide, Dr Magnus Eze, Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the release was the result of persistent appeals by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She recalled her visit to Pastor Egbaji at a Cotonou hospital last year alongside Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, during which Nigeria pressed for adequate medical care or his transfer home.
The minister attributed the breakthrough to President Bola Tinubu’s citizen diplomacy policy, stressing that the protection of Nigerians abroad remains a central pillar of the administration’s foreign policy. She noted that the intervention aligns with the Diaspora component of the government’s Four-Ds strategy—Democracy, Demography, Diaspora and Development—under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that she spoke with Pastor Egbaji shortly after his release and confirmed that he was in stable spirits, though still requiring medical attention. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting Nigerians facing legal and humanitarian challenges overseas.
Reacting to the development, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in Benin Republic, Alhaji Mohammad Munir, commended the minister for what he described as hands-on diplomacy and dedication to the welfare of Nigerians abroad. He also praised President Tinubu for prioritising the safety and rights of citizens in the diaspora.
Members of the Nigerian community in Benin have welcomed Pastor Egbaji’s release, describing it as a clear demonstration of effective diplomacy and strong regional cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
