The Nigerian government has secured the release of Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, a Nigerian cleric who had been imprisoned in the Republic of Benin for more than two years over alleged rape.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, confirmed the development, describing the pastor’s detention conditions as dehumanising.

Egbaji, a cleric and businessman from Cross River State, was released on Thursday, January 8, following a presidential pardon granted by Benin Republic’s President, Patrice Talon. The amnesty was officially gazetted on December 17, 2025.

The confirmation was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the minister, Magnus Eze.

According to the statement, Pastor Egbaji had faced multiple charges and was initially held in a hospital in Cotonou due to deteriorating health before being transferred to a correctional facility.

Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the release was the result of sustained diplomatic engagements, including her personal visit to the cleric while he was hospitalised in August 2025.

She explained that public concern intensified after a photograph showing Egbaji chained to a hospital bed circulated widely on social media, prompting urgent diplomatic intervention by Nigerian authorities.

“This release is the outcome of persistent and deliberate diplomatic efforts. We were deeply troubled by his condition and the circumstances surrounding his detention, and we took all necessary steps to ensure his welfare and access to medical care,” the minister said.

She added that Nigeria’s foreign policy places strong emphasis on the protection of citizens abroad.

“The diaspora component of our foreign policy prioritises the welfare of Nigerians wherever they may be,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated.

The minister also revealed that she spoke with Pastor Egbaji shortly after his release, noting that while he was emotionally stable, he would require extensive medical treatment following his prolonged incarceration.

Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had formally appealed to Beninois authorities to release the cleric on humanitarian grounds, or alternatively, allow him to complete the remainder of his sentence in Nigeria due to his failing health.

The appeal followed a joint visit to the detained pastor by Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Benin Republic’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari.

In official correspondence, the Nigerian government cited humanitarian considerations and the longstanding cordial relationship between both countries.

“In recognition of our enduring bilateral ties and the humanitarian urgency of the matter, we requested that Pastor Egbaji be repatriated to Nigeria to serve the remainder of his sentence,” the statement noted, adding that his health had severely deteriorated while in custody.