BY JENNIFER EZIMAKOR
The Federal Government has asked the authorities of the Republic of Benin to repatriate Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, a Nigerian cleric and businessman, currently serving a jail term in Cotonou, citing urgent health concerns.
Egbaji, a native of Cross River State, has been in detention since May 2023, following allegations of sexual assault by a Beninese national, Pede Victoire. He is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Cotonou, where officials say his condition is steadily worsening.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, raised the alarm over his deteriorating health and urged Benin to transfer him to Nigeria so he can receive proper medical attention while continuing his sentence.
Her statement, issued on Tuesday by her aide, Magnus Eze, noted that Odumegwu-Ojukwu had visited Egbaji in August alongside Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Bakari, during which the request for his transfer was formally presented.
“Nigeria has expressed concern over the failing health of its national, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, currently facing trial in the Republic of Benin. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has 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,” the statement read.
The minister explained that two independent medical experts appointed by the Beninese court recently recommended that Egbaji be transferred abroad for urgent treatment, as local medical interventions have been ineffective.
She also noted that the Nigerian Mission in Cotonou has been monitoring his situation and confirmed a steady decline in his condition.
In a letter addressed to the Beninese government, Nigeria highlighted Egbaji’s decades-long presence in Benin, where he has contributed as a pastor, entrepreneur, and community leader. The government appealed for his repatriation on humanitarian grounds, stressing that such a move would reflect the spirit of cooperation between both countries.
“It is against this backdrop of solidarity and mutual goodwill that I seek Your Excellency’s kind consideration regarding the plight of a Nigerian national, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, who has been serving a custodial sentence in Cotonou since October 2023 for a jail term of 10 years,” the letter stated.
The Federal Government’s request reflects a balance between concern for citizens’ welfare abroad and respect for legal processes. Talks between Nigerian and Beninese officials on the matter are still ongoing.