FG secures release of Nigerian pastor jailed in Benin after two years

Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, has secured the release of Benjamin Egbaji, a Nigerian pastor and businessman, who was imprisoned in the Republic of Benin and reportedly subjected to dehumanising conditions for more than two years.

Egbaji, a cleric from Cross River State, was freed on Thursday, January 8, 2026, following a presidential pardon granted by Patrice Talon, President of the Republic of Benin.

The amnesty, which was formally gazetted on December 17, 2025, came after months of sustained diplomatic engagement by the Nigerian government.

The development was disclosed in a statement in Abuja on Thursday by Magnus Eze, Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

According to the statement, Egbaji had been accused of multiple offences and was initially detained at a hospital in Cotonou before being transferred to prison as his health continued to deteriorate.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said her office became deeply concerned about the pastor’s welfare after reports emerged that he was being held under harsh and degrading conditions.

“Public outrage intensified following the circulation of a photograph showing Egbaji chained to a hospital bed, a development that prompted urgent diplomatic intervention by Nigeria.

“This release is the result of consistent and determined diplomatic action. We were deeply concerned by his condition and the circumstances of his detention, and we took every necessary step to ensure that he received justice, humane treatment and access to medical care”, the minister said.

She revealed that the diplomatic breakthrough followed a series of engagements with Beninois authorities, including a visit to Egbaji while he was hospitalised in August 2025.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu noted that the sustained pressure eventually culminated in the grant of presidential clemency by President Talon.

The minister credited President Bola Tinubu’s foreign policy direction for the successful outcome, describing it as a practical demonstration of the administration’s commitment to citizen diplomacy under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“This diplomatic feat is a testament to President Tinubu’s commitment to citizen diplomacy. The diaspora component of our foreign policy places the welfare of Nigerians abroad at the centre of our engagement with other countries,” she said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu also disclosed that she spoke with Egbaji by telephone shortly after his release.

“He is in high spirits, but he deserves good medical care after all he has been through,” she added.

Prior to his release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had formally appealed to the Beninois authorities to allow Egbaji access to proper medical treatment and, if necessary, to transfer him to Nigeria to serve the remainder of his custodial sentence.

The appeal followed a joint visit to the detained pastor by Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Olushegun Adjadi Bakari.

In official correspondence to the Benin Republic, the Nigerian government underscored humanitarian concerns surrounding Egbaji’s detention and referenced the longstanding cordial relations between both countries.

“In the spirit of our longstanding friendship and recognising the humanitarian imperative, we requested that Pastor Egbaji be repatriated to Nigeria to serve the remainder of his sentence,” the statement said, adding that his health had “deteriorated severely while in detention.”

The ministry noted that granting the request would further demonstrate the enduring spirit of fraternity and cooperation between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

Reacting to the development, Mohammad Munir, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Republic of Benin chapter, praised Odumegwu-Ojukwu for her intervention and commitment to the welfare of Nigerians abroad.

“Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu has shown uncommon commitment to the well-being of Nigerians in the diaspora.

“We also commend President Tinubu and urge that more diplomatic efforts be deployed to assist other Nigerians who are currently incarcerated abroad”, Munir said.

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