January 08, (THEWILL) — Nigeria has recorded a major diplomatic success following the release of a detained Nigerian cleric, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, from custody in the Republic of Benin, in what officials have described as a clear demonstration of effective citizen diplomacy under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Pastor Egbaji, a businessman and religious leader from Cross River State, regained his freedom on Thursday, after being granted a presidential pardon by Beninois President, Patrice Talon.
The pardon, which was gazetted in December 2025, followed months of sustained diplomatic engagement by the Nigerian government amid growing concerns over the cleric’s deteriorating health and treatment while in detention.
Egbaji had been held for more than two years after being accused of various offences. He was initially confined to a hospital in Cotonou under conditions Nigerian officials described as degrading, before being transferred to a correctional facility. His case drew widespread attention after distressing images showing him visibly ill and restrained to a hospital bed circulated on social media, triggering public outrage and renewed calls for diplomatic intervention.
In a statement issued by her media aide, Dr Magnus Eze, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the cleric’s release was the outcome of persistent appeals and high-level engagements by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She recalled that she personally visited Egbaji at a Cotonou hospital last year alongside Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, to press for humanitarian consideration and improved medical care.
According to the minister, Nigeria had repeatedly requested that Pastor Egbaji be allowed access to proper medical treatment or be transferred home to serve his sentence, citing humanitarian and consular concerns.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu attributed the success of the negotiations to President Tinubu’s emphasis on citizen diplomacy, noting that the protection of Nigerians abroad remains a central pillar of the administration’s foreign policy. She explained that the intervention aligns with the Diaspora component of the government’s Four-Ds strategy—Democracy, Demography, Diaspora and Development—under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The minister disclosed that she spoke with Pastor Egbaji shortly after his release and confirmed that he was in stable spirits, though still in need of medical attention. She assured that the federal government would continue to provide support to Nigerians facing legal and humanitarian challenges outside the country.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in the Benin Republic, Mohammad Munir, commended Odumegwu-Ojukwu for what he described as hands-on diplomacy and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Nigerians abroad. He also praised President Tinubu for prioritising the safety and rights of Nigerians in the diaspora, urging sustained diplomatic efforts to assist citizens detained overseas.
Members of the Nigerian community in Benin Republic have welcomed Egbaji’s release, describing it as a strong affirmation of effective diplomacy and regional cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
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