Nigerian cleric, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, incarcerated in Benin Republic, was on Thursday launched following a presidential pardon granted by President Patrice Talon.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Overseas Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, confirmed this in a press release issued by her media aide, Dr Magnus Eze.
She mentioned Egbaji, a businessman from Cross River, was accused of an offence and detained underneath dehumanising circumstances at a hospital in Cotonou.
Based on her, the cleric spent over two years in detention as his well being deteriorated earlier than he was ultimately transferred to jail custody.
She defined {that a} gazetted presidential amnesty dated Dec. 17, 2025, supplied the authorized foundation for securing his eventual launch.
“This adopted sustained diplomatic stress from my workplace, together with my go to to the detained citizen at a Cotonou hospital in August 2025.
“A viral {photograph} exhibiting Egbaji chained to a hospital mattress provoked outrage amongst Nigerians and triggered rapid diplomatic engagement by the ministry,” she mentioned.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu attributed the breakthrough to President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to citizen diplomacy as a core thrust of his international coverage.
She mentioned the motion aligned with the diaspora pillar of the Democracy, Demography, Diaspora and Growth, 4-Ds, international coverage framework.
The minister burdened the necessity for Egbaji to obtain correct medical care following years of incarceration and declining well being.
She added that Nigeria had requested his launch to allow him serve any remaining custodial time period inside the nation.
Based on her, the event demonstrated the enduring spirit of fraternity and cooperation between Nigeria and Benin.
She quoted the Chairman of Nigerians In Diaspora Organisation, Benin chapter, Alhaji Munir, as commending the ministry’s diplomatic intervention.
Munir mentioned the hassle confirmed unusual dedication to safeguarding the welfare of Nigerians dwelling overseas.
He additionally praised President Tinubu for shielding Nigerians abroad and urged intensified diplomatic efforts to free harmless residents jailed overseas.
