The Federal Government has facilitated the release of a Nigerian pastor and businessman, Benjamin Egbaji, who had been incarcerated in the Republic of Benin for over two years under what officials described as dehumanising conditions.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, confirmed that Egbaji regained his freedom on Thursday, January 8, following a presidential pardon granted by Benin Republic’s President, Patrice Talon.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by the Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the minister, Magnus Eze.
Egbaji, a cleric and entrepreneur from Cross River State, was reportedly facing multiple charges. He was first held at a hospital in Cotonou before being transferred to prison as his health worsened.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu explained that the amnesty was formally gazetted on December 17, 2025, after sustained diplomatic engagements initiated by her office. She noted that the efforts included a visit to the detained pastor in August 2025 while he was hospitalised.
The minister said a photograph that circulated widely on social media, showing Egbaji chained to a hospital bed, triggered public outrage in Nigeria and intensified diplomatic intervention.
“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 he received justice and access to medical care,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
She attributed the success of the intervention to President Bola Tinubu’s foreign policy direction, particularly the emphasis on 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 engagement,” she added.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also revealed 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 said.
Prior to the pardon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had formally appealed to the authorities in Benin Republic to release Egbaji on humanitarian grounds to enable him to access adequate medical care and, if required, complete the remainder of his custodial sentence in Nigeria.
The appeal followed a joint visit to the detained pastor by Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Benin Republic’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari.
In correspondence addressed to Beninois authorities, the Nigerian government underscored humanitarian considerations and 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.
It further stated that Egbaji’s health had “deteriorated severely while in detention,” adding that his release would reflect the enduring spirit of cooperation and fraternity between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.
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