The Federal Government has expressed worries over the deteriorating health of its national, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, currently facing trial in the Republic of Benin.
Egbaji, a cleric from Cross River State, has for about two years been detained in a hospital in Cotonou, the country’s capital.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has implored the Benin authorities to release the Nigerian national to enable him have access to better medical care and also serve out his sentence in Nigeria.
In a statement, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said discussions with the Nigerian Mission in Cotonou, showed that Pastor Egbaji’s health is steadily deteriorating and he requires urgent and proper medical attention.
The statement quoted the Ministry to have said that the Ministry had made 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.
She 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.
According to her, Nigeria was worried over the pace of the Benin authorities in addressing the situation and acceding to its request.
She urged the country to consent to Nigeria’s request and accelerate the release of the detained Nigerian pastor on the strength of the mutual relationship between the two countries.
She also disclosed that Nigeria’s position was further highlighted in a recent letter to the Republic of Benin Government.
“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. As Your Excellency may be aware, Pastor Egbaji has been in Benin Republic for over three decades, contributing meaningfully as an entrepreneur, pastor, and community leader.
“Regrettably, his health has deteriorated severely while in detention. Two independent medical experts appointed by the court recently recommended that he be transferred abroad for urgent medical care, as local interventions have proved ineffective.
“In the spirit of our longstanding friendship and in recognition of the humanitarian imperative, not being unmindful of the grievous nature of the offence he is charged with, we kindly request that Pastor Egbaji be repatriated to Nigeria to serve out the remainder of his sentence in a Nigerian Correctional Centre,” she added.