- Odumegwu-Ojukwu said she contacted Pastor Egbaji by phone and confirmed that he was in good spirits
- Munir also praised President Tinubu for prioritising the safety of Nigerians in the diaspora
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier appealed to Beninese authorities to either release the detained pastor or allow him to serve his sentence in Nigeria
Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement with the Republic of Benin has yielded a breakthrough following the release of Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, a Nigerian citizen who had been held in custody for more than two years under harsh conditions.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the freedom of the Cross River–born cleric and businessman was secured through sustained intervention led by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, culminating in a presidential pardon granted by Beninese President Patrice Talon.
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Pastor Egbaji was initially detained over multiple allegations and spent a prolonged period chained to a hospital bed in Cotonou as his health declined before he was eventually transferred to prison custody.
Images of his condition later circulated online, sparking public outrage in Nigeria and intensifying calls for government action.
According to a statement from the minister’s media office, the pardon was formally gazetted on December 17, 2025, following months of diplomatic pressure, including a personal visit by Odumegwu-Ojukwu to the ailing Nigerian in August last year.
The minister described the development as a reflection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s citizen-focused foreign policy, noting that the administration places strong emphasis on protecting Nigerians wherever they reside.
Speaking shortly after the release, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said she contacted Pastor Egbaji by phone and confirmed that he was in good spirits, adding that arrangements were being considered to ensure he receives proper medical attention.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier appealed to Beninese authorities to either release the detained pastor or allow him to serve his sentence in Nigeria, citing humanitarian concerns and the longstanding cordial relationship between both countries.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in the Republic of Benin, Alhaji Mohammad Munir, applauded the minister’s hands-on diplomacy, describing her actions as a strong signal of Nigeria’s commitment to the welfare of its citizens abroad.
Munir also praised President Tinubu for prioritising the safety of Nigerians in the diaspora and urged the government to sustain diplomatic efforts aimed at assisting citizens facing unjust incarceration in foreign countries.
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