Nigerian Pastor Benjamin Egbaji Released from Benin Prison Following Diplomatic Intervention
The Federal Government has secured the release of Nigerian pastor and businessman Benjamin Egbaji, who had been jailed in the Republic of Benin for over two years under deteriorating health conditions.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, announced that Egbaji was freed on Thursday, January 8, following a presidential pardon granted by Benin President Patrice Talon. The release comes after sustained diplomatic efforts by the Nigerian government, including a visit by Odumegwu-Ojukwu to the pastor in a Cotonou hospital in August 2025.
A viral photo showing Egbaji chained to a hospital bed had sparked public outrage, prompting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intensify advocacy for his release.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the development as a demonstration of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to citizen diplomacy, a key pillar of his 4-Ds foreign policy approach (Democracy, Demography, Diaspora, and Development). She also spoke with Egbaji by phone after his release, noting that he was in high spirits and would receive proper medical care.
The Ministry had previously requested that Egbaji be repatriated to Nigeria to serve the remainder of his sentence while accessing adequate medical attention. The request highlighted his decades-long contributions as a pastor, entrepreneur, and community leader in Benin.
Alhaji Mohammad Munir, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in Benin, commended the minister’s diplomatic efforts and President Tinubu’s role in safeguarding Nigerians abroad, urging continued use of diplomatic channels to assist citizens in similar circumstances.
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