The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, has visited Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, a Nigerian national from Cross River State, who has been imprisoned in the Republic of Benin for nearly two years on rape allegations, describing his condition as “distressing.” Newspaper subscription bundles
The visit, which took place at the Central National Hospital in Cotonou, was conducted in collaboration with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Community Development Association (CDA), and officers of the Nigerian Embassy in Benin, following a petition regarding the pastor’s welfare.
“I was shaken by the sight that confronted me as I walked into the hospital ward in Cotonou where he is presently receiving treatment. He was in chains even in the hospital, and upon seeing me, he broke down in tears,” Ojukwu said in a statement shared on her official X handle.
Pastor Egbaji has been battling serious health challenges during his detention, which comes amid unclear circumstances surrounding the allegations made against him. The accusations, filed by Pede Victoire, claimed that Pastor Egbaji raped her daughter, Ahouandjinou Dona Sarah, when she was 13 years old. However, no formal complaint was reported at the time, and no evidence has been presented to substantiate the claim.
Ojukwu disclosed that the situation took a surprising turn when the alleged victim, Sarah, publicly refuted the rape allegations. “The matter is presently on appeal,” she noted. Newspaper subscription bundles
Reaffirming the Nigerian government’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad, Ojukwu emphasized that citizen diplomacy remains central to the administration’s foreign policy.
“President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated that the interests and welfare of Nigerian nationals in distress abroad must be accorded top priority,” she said.Newspaper subscription bundles
She further confirmed that the Federal Government is actively exploring all available diplomatic channels to ensure justice is served in Pastor Egbaji’s case.
Ojukwu and her team also expressed appreciation to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Justice of Benin, as well as the Beninese government, for facilitating immediate access to Pastor Egbaji and extending courtesies during the visit.
The intervention underscores ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to safeguard the welfare of nationals facing legal or health challenges abroad, highlighting a hands-on approach to citizen protection.
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