The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has shared the story of a Nigerian pastor who is imprisoned in the Benin Republic on rape charges.
Ojukwu revealed that the clergyman identified as Benjamin Egbaji, from Cross River State, has been imprisoned for the past two years in the Republic of Benin.
Speaking via a statement on her Social Media handles, the Minister lamented that Egbaji was being detained under unclear circumstances and is now facing critical health challenges.
The Minister who described the pastor’s predicament, “a sad case,” wrote, “Following a petition to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about a Nigerian National, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji,from Cross River State who has been imprisoned for the past two years in the Republic of Benin on charges of Rape, I visited the Central National Hospital Universitaire, Benin Republic with a team from our ministry, as well as the hard working CDA and officers of the Nigeria Embassy in the Republic of Benin.
The Minister seeing the traumatised pastor at the Central National Hospital Universitaire alongside officials from the ministry and the Nigerian Embassy, raised concerns over the health of Pastor Egbaji, who has been imprisoned in Nigeria’s neighbouring country for two years on rape charges promised that the federal government would do something urgently to ensure that justice was done.
Recounting how she found the Nigerian born pastor chained to a hospital bed in Cotonou, the minister revealed that the pastor was detained under unclear circumstances and now in poor health.
She assured Pastor Egbaji of Nigeria’s intervention, stressing that the Tinubu administration was prioritizing citizen diplomacy and would use all diplomatic channels to ensure justice.
She explained, “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.”
Ambassador Ojukwu assured Egbaji that the Nigerian government would intervene in his case.
She wrote: “‘Your Country has not abandoned you’, I reassured him. Your government is committed to ensuring that justice is done in this matter.”
Narrating what led to his imprisonment, Mrs. Ojukwu wrote: “The accusations against Pastor Benjamin were made by Pede Victoire, a citizen of Benin who claimed that Benjamin has raped her daughter, Ahouandjinou Dona Sarah, when she was just 13 years old.
“This claim, however, was never reported or complained about, and no evidence has been presented to substantiate these allegations.
“The situation took a surprising turn when Sarah herself came forward and refuted the claim of rape. The matter is presently on appeal.
“Citizen Diplomacy is at the core of the foreign policy thrust of this Administration. The President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated that the interests and welfare of Nigerian nationals in distress, wherever they may be, outside the shores of their homeland must be given top priority.
“Consequently, the government is exploring all options and utilising all diplomatic ties and channels available to ensure that justice is done in the case of Pastor Benjamin Egbaji.
“We also extend our thanks to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Justice and the Government of Benin for the kind courtesies entended to our delegation by facilitating this access to Pastor Benjamin Egbaji within such short notice,” the minister wrote.
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