The Nigerian Government has voiced deep concern over the deteriorating health condition of Benjamin Egbaji, a Nigerian citizen currently serving a custodial sentence in the Republic of Benin.
Egbaji, a businessman and cleric from Cross River State, is reportedly being held in a hospital in Cotonou under what officials described as ‘dehumanising conditions’.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by her Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Magnus Eze.
According to the minister, reports from the Nigerian Mission in Cotonou indicate that Egbaji’s health has continued to worsen, prompting urgent calls for appropriate medical intervention.
She said the Nigerian government has appealed to the Beninese authorities to consider the humanitarian implications of his condition and to allow him to receive proper treatment, ideally in Nigeria, under a prisoner transfer arrangement.
“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 Egbaji,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said. “He has been serving a 10-year custodial sentence in Cotonou since October 2023. Unfortunately, his health has deteriorated severely during his detention.”
The minister noted that Egbaji, who has lived in Benin Republic for over three decades, has made positive contributions as an entrepreneur, pastor, and community leader. She further revealed that two independent medical experts appointed by the Beninese court had recommended his transfer abroad for urgent treatment after local medical interventions failed to improve his condition.
“We kindly request that Pastor Egbaji be repatriated to Nigeria to serve the remainder of his sentence in a Nigerian correctional centre, in the spirit of our longstanding friendship and regional cooperation,” she stated.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasised that the request was being made not in disregard of the nature of the charges against him but in recognition of the humanitarian imperative and the shared values of compassion and justice that bind both nations.
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to constructive engagement with the Benin Republic on consular matters, while expressing hope that the case would be handled with fairness and understanding consistent with the principles of bilateral goodwill and mutual respect.
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