Federal Government has called on the Republic of Benin to release a Nigerian national, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, who is facing trial in the country.
In a statement on Tuesday by the spokesperson to the minister of state for foreign affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Magnus Eze, the government expressed concern about the health of Egbaji.
Mr Egbaji, a businessman and cleric from Cross River State, has been detained for about two years in a hospital in Cotonou, Benin Republic, where his health has continued to decline.
The ministry of foreign affairs urged the Benin authorities to release Egbaji so that he could receive medical care and complete his sentence in Nigeria.
Mrs Odumegwu-Ojukwu said information from the Nigerian Mission in Cotonou indicated that Egbaji’s health was worsening and that he needed medical attention.
She said the ministry had made efforts to secure his release in line with the citizen diplomacy policy of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The minister, who in August visited Egbaji in the Cotonou hospital alongside Benin’s minister of foreign affairs, Olushegun Bakari, said Nigeria had requested that the detainee be transferred to serve his custodial term in Nigeria.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu noted that Nigeria was concerned about the delay by the Benin authorities in responding to its request.
She also called on Benin to consider Nigeria’s appeal, citing the longstanding relationship between both countries.
According to her, Nigeria’s position was restated in a recent letter to the Benin government.
