FG requests evacuation of Pastor Egbaji from Benin

Nigeria has called on the Republic of Benin to release its national, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, who is currently facing trial in the country. In a statement on Tuesday by the spokesperson of Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Magnus Eze, Nigeria expressed concern over the deteriorating health of Egbaji. Egbaji, a […]

Nigeria has called on the Republic of Benin to release its national, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, who is currently facing trial in the country.

In a statement on Tuesday by the spokesperson of Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Magnus Eze, Nigeria expressed concern over the deteriorating health of Egbaji.

Egbaji, a businessman and cleric from Cross River State, has for about two years been detained in a hospital in Cotonou, the country’s capital, under dehumanising conditions while his health deteriorated.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the Benin authorities to release the Nigerian national so that he could have better medical care and also serve out his sentence in Nigeria.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said discussions with the Nigerian Mission in Cotonou indicated that Egbaji’s health is steadily worsening and he needs urgent and proper medical attention. 

 

She stated that the ministry had made a spirited effort to rescue the troubled Egbaji in line with the citizen diplomacy thrust of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.

 

The minister, who in early August, visited Egbaji in the Cotonou hospital alongside the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, disclosed that the ministry had requested the transfer of the Nigerian national to receive the deserved medical care and serve out his custodial term in Nigeria.

 

She explained that Nigeria was worried over the pace of the Benin authorities in addressing the situation and acceding to its request.

 

Noting the longstanding cordial relations between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, founded on shared cultural heritage, bonds of trust, mutual respect, and a spirit of brotherhood, she urged the country to consent to Nigeria’s request and accelerate the release of the detained Nigerian pastor.

 

Odumegwu-Ojukwu also disclosed that Nigeria’s position was further highlighted in a recent letter to the Republic of Benin Government.