The Federal Government has secured the release of Nigerian pastor and businessman, Benjamin Egbaji, from detention in the Republic of Benin, bringing to an end a prolonged ordeal that had drawn outrage among Nigerians and prompted intense diplomatic engagement between Abuja and Cotonou.

The intervention was led by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, whose sustained diplomatic pressure on Beninois authorities culminated in a presidential pardon for Egbaji by President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic.

Egbaji, a cleric and entrepreneur from Cross River State, had been held for more than two years in Benin Republic on allegations of multiple offences. His case gained widespread attention after a photograph emerged showing him chained to a hospital bed in Cotonou, sparking public anger and raising serious concerns about his treatment and the conditions of his detention.

According to information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Egbaji was initially detained in a hospital facility in Cotonou, where his health deteriorated significantly. He was later transferred to prison, but reports of his worsening condition and the inhumane circumstances under which he was allegedly held prompted urgent appeals from Nigerian authorities.

Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who personally visited Egbaji while he was hospitalised, made his case a priority within Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements with Benin Republic. Her office mounted sustained pressure on Cotonou, combining formal diplomatic correspondence, high-level discussions and direct humanitarian appeals to secure relief for the detained pastor.

She explained that the eventual amnesty granted to Egbaji was the product of “consistent and determined diplomatic action” anchored on both humanitarian grounds and the broader framework of Nigeria–Benin relations. The pardon, formally documented by Beninois authorities, effectively terminated his custodial sentence and cleared the way for his release.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the Nigerian government had been deeply troubled by the circumstances of Egbaji’s detention, particularly the widely circulated image of him in chains, which she described as unacceptable and contrary to basic standards of human dignity. That image, she noted, galvanised public opinion in Nigeria and reinforced the urgency of diplomatic intervention.

She stressed that the outcome was also a reflection of President Bola Tinubu’s foreign policy direction, which places the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad at the centre of Nigeria’s external engagements. Under the administration’s citizen diplomacy and Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigerian missions have been encouraged to take a more proactive stance in cases involving the rights and safety of nationals overseas.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the successful resolution of Egbaji’s case should be seen as a practical demonstration of that policy in action. She described the release as a “diplomatic feat” that underscores the government’s readiness to intervene wherever Nigerians face injustice or inhumane treatment outside the country.

Shortly after his release, the minister spoke with Egbaji by telephone. She disclosed that he was in “high spirits” but emphasised that his physical condition remained a concern after the prolonged period of ill health and incarceration. She noted that he would require comprehensive medical attention to recover fully from the ordeal.

Before the pardon was granted, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had formally appealed to Beninois authorities to consider releasing Egbaji on humanitarian grounds, or alternatively to allow him to be repatriated to Nigeria to access proper medical care and, if necessary, serve any remaining portion of his sentence at home.

This appeal followed a joint visit to Egbaji by Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari. During that visit, the Nigerian side raised concerns about his health and the conditions of his detention, while also invoking the longstanding ties of friendship and cooperation between the two West African neighbours.

In official correspondence to Cotonou, the Nigerian government highlighted both the humanitarian imperative and the broader diplomatic context. It argued that allowing Egbaji to receive adequate medical treatment, and demonstrating flexibility in his case, would further strengthen the spirit of fraternity that has historically characterised Nigeria–Benin relations.

The ministry noted that Egbaji’s health had “deteriorated severely while in detention,” and framed its request as an opportunity for Benin Republic to underscore its commitment to human rights and regional solidarity. The eventual decision by President Talon to grant a pardon was welcomed in Abuja as a positive gesture that reinforced mutual respect between the two countries.

The case also drew the attention of the Nigerian community in Benin Republic. The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Republic of Benin chapter, Alhaji Mohammad Munir, praised Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu for what he described as her “uncommon commitment” to the welfare of Nigerians living abroad.

Munir commended the minister’s persistence and the broader support from the Nigerian government, particularly the presidency, in pushing for a resolution. He urged that similar diplomatic energy be extended to other Nigerians facing legal or humanitarian challenges in foreign jurisdictions, noting that many citizens in the diaspora look to their home government for protection and advocacy.