Odumegwu-Ojukwu secures release of Nigerian Pastor detained in Benin Republic

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has secured the release of a Nigerian citizen, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, who had been incarcerated in the Republic of Benin for over two years.

Egbaji, a businessman and cleric from Cross River State, was accused of various offences and initially detained under what officials described as dehumanising conditions in a hospital in Cotonou, Benin’s capital, before being transferred to prison as his health deteriorated.

Speaking on the development, Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that Pastor Egbaji regained his freedom on Thursday, January 8, 2026, following a presidential pardon granted by Benin Republic President, Patrice Talon.

She said the pardon, gazetted on December 17, 2025, followed sustained diplomatic engagements by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including her visit to the detained Nigerian in a Cotonou hospital in August 2025.

The minister attributed the breakthrough to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to citizen diplomacy, a core component of Nigeria’s foreign policy under the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the Diaspora pillar of the Four-Ds framework—Democracy, Demography, Diaspora and Development.

She noted that the case had drawn public outrage after images of the ailing pastor chained to a hospital bed went viral on social media, prompting intensified diplomatic efforts by Nigeria to secure his release or, at minimum, his transfer to Nigeria for medical care and completion of his sentence.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said she spoke with Pastor Egbaji shortly after his release and confirmed that he was in good spirits, though in need of proper medical attention.

She added that Nigeria had repeatedly appealed to Beninese authorities on humanitarian grounds, citing medical reports by court-appointed experts which recommended urgent treatment abroad.

According to the minister, Nigeria expressed concern over the slow response to its requests, despite the longstanding cordial relationship between both countries, built on shared cultural ties, mutual respect and cooperation.

Reacting to the development, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Benin Republic chapter, Alhaji Mohammad Munir, commended Odumegwu-Ojukwu for what he described as her diplomatic skill and dedication to the welfare of Nigerians abroad.

He also praised President Tinubu for prioritising the protection of Nigerians in the diaspora and called for sustained diplomatic efforts to assist other citizens facing detention overseas.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of Nigerians wherever they may be, through sustained diplomatic engagement and cooperation with host countries.