FG Secures Release Of Nigerian Pastor Detained In Benin Republic

According to Ireporter Online, Nigerian pastor Benjamin Egbaji has been released from custody in the Republic of Benin following intervention by the Federal Government. Egbaji had been detained for more than two years after being arrested over multiple offences.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, confirmed that Egbaji regained his freedom on Thursday, January 8, 2026, after receiving a presidential pardon from Benin Republic President Patrice Talon. The pardon had been officially approved on December 17, 2025.

Egbaji, a cleric and businessman from Cross River State, was initially placed under guard at a hospital in Cotonou, where reports indicated he faced poor conditions and worsening health, before being transferred to prison. The minister attributed his release to sustained diplomatic efforts by Nigeria, including her visit to Egbaji in Cotonou in August 2025.

The case drew widespread public attention after a photograph of the pastor chained to a hospital bed circulated online, sparking outrage in Nigeria and prompting urgent action by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Odumegwu-Ojukwu highlighted that the success of the intervention reflected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s foreign policy, which prioritizes the protection of Nigerians abroad under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Following his release, the minister spoke with Egbaji by phone, noting that he was in good spirits but still required proper medical attention. Nigeria had previously requested that Egbaji either be allowed to return home for treatment or serve the remainder of his sentence in a Nigerian correctional facility. Concerns had also been raised regarding delays by Beninois authorities, given the longstanding cultural and diplomatic ties between the two countries.

During earlier discussions, Odumegwu-Ojukwu met with Benin Republic’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, emphasizing Nigeria’s concern over Egbaji’s deteriorating health. Medical reports presented in court indicated that the pastor urgently needed treatment outside Benin, as local medical interventions had failed to improve his condition. The Federal Government formally appealed for his transfer on humanitarian grounds.