Why Did Nigeria Intervene in Benin Republic? How Diplomatic Pressure Secured the Release of Pastor Benjamin Egbaji Jailed for Alleged Rape After Two Years in Detention

Why did the Nigerian government step in to secure the release of a pastor imprisoned abroad, and what role did diplomacy and humanitarian concerns play in his freedom?

The Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed the release of Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, a Nigerian cleric and businessman from Cross River State who had been detained in the Republic of Benin for more than two years over alleged rape. His freedom, announced on January 8, 2026, followed a presidential pardon granted by Benin’s President, Patrice Talon, after sustained diplomatic intervention by Nigerian authorities.

According to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Egbaji was released after what officials described as prolonged detention under “dehumanising conditions.” The amnesty that secured his freedom was formally gazetted on December 17, 2025, and took effect following high-level engagements between both governments.

Official statements revealed that Egbaji had initially been held in a hospital in Cotonou before being transferred to prison as his health deteriorated. His case attracted widespread attention after a photograph showing him chained to a hospital bed circulated on social media, sparking public outrage and urgent calls for intervention.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that her office maintained consistent diplomatic pressure, including a personal visit to the detained pastor while he was hospitalised in August 2025. She described the release as the outcome of “determined diplomatic action,” adding that Nigeria’s foreign policy places the welfare of its citizens abroad at the centre of international engagement.

“This release is the result of consistent and determined diplomatic action. We were deeply concerned by his condition and the circumstances of his detention,” the minister said, noting that although Egbaji is in high spirits, he requires extensive medical care after his prolonged incarceration.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier appealed to Beninese authorities to free the pastor on humanitarian grounds or allow him to serve any remaining sentence in Nigeria. The request followed a joint visit by Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Benin’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, during which Nigeria emphasized both Egbaji’s failing health and the long-standing diplomatic ties between the two countries.

In official correspondence, Nigerian authorities cited the humanitarian imperative, stating that the cleric’s health had “deteriorated severely while in detention.” Ultimately, the Beninese government granted a presidential pardon, bringing an end to his imprisonment.

The development raises critical questions:
Was Egbaji’s release driven purely by humanitarian concerns?
How much influence did diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Benin Republic play?
And what does this case reveal about the treatment of foreign detainees and the protection of citizens abroad?

While the allegations that led to his imprisonment remain a sensitive issue, the Nigerian government has framed the intervention as a matter of human rights, medical necessity, and diplomatic responsibility. The case has since become a reference point in discussions on how far governments should go to protect nationals facing detention overseas.

Judicial Power to Quash Presidential Pardon Explained by Femi Falana SAN

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, argues that presidential or gubernatorial pardons cannot override ongoing judicial processes, especially where trials or appeals are still pending. Citing several Nigerian and foreign court decisions, Falana explains that the prerogative of mercy is only valid after a conviction and exhaustion of appeals, warning that misuse of pardon powers undermines the rule of law. The article references the Maryam Sanda case to reaffirm that courts retain authority to nullify improperly granted pardons.


#PresidentialPardon
#RuleOfLaw
#FemiFalana

Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence for Maryam Sanda

The Supreme Court has reaffirmed the death sentence passed on Maryam Sanda for the killing of her husband, Bilyamin Bello, in a split 4–1 judgment. The apex court dismissed her appeal, holding that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and that the Court of Appeal was right to uphold the trial court’s verdict.

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Moore Adumein, the court ruled that all issues raised by Sanda lacked merit and affirmed the sentence of death by hanging earlier imposed by an Abuja High Court on January 27, 2020, for the 2017 stabbing incident at their Abuja residence.

The Supreme Court also faulted the exercise of executive powers by President Bola Tinubu to reduce her sentence to 12 years while an appeal was still pending, stressing that such intervention was improper in a culpable homicide case under active judicial consideration.

Despite having spent about six years and eight months at Suleja Prison, Sanda was included in a recent presidential pardon on compassionate grounds. The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the clemency considered the best interests of her children, citing her good conduct, remorse, and positive influence while in custody.

#SupremeCourt #MaryamSanda #NigeriaJustice #BreakingNews

BREAKING NEWS: Supreme Court Overturns Presidential Pardon, Affirms Maryam Sanda’s D€ath Sentence.

Tinubu Revises Pardon, Reduces Maryam Sanda’s Death Sentence to 12 Years

President Bola Tinubu has reversed the earlier presidential pardon granted to Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello. Instead, her death sentence has now been commuted to a 12-year prison term.

This adjustment was revealed in an updated official gazette released on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

According to the document, Sanda has already served six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre in Niger State. With the revised sentence, she has approximately five years and four months left to serve before completing her term. 

The change was made on compassionate grounds.

The updated list also includes over 80 other inmates whose sentences were similarly reduced to shorter prison terms.

A govt that thinks after it acts” – Atiku criticises Tinubu over cancelled pardon.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over the cancellation of the controversial presidential pardon earlier granted to convicted drug traffickers, kidnappers, and other criminals.

Atiku said the reversal was another example of a government that “thinks after it acts,” accusing Tinubu of lacking foresight and moral direction.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the U-turn as “not an act of wisdom but an act of shame.”

“President Bola Tinubu has ‘cancelled’ his own pardon for drug traffickers, kidnappers, and other hardened criminals — but only after Nigerians shouted loud enough to wake him from his moral slumber,” the statement read.

Atiku said the episode exposed how poorly decisions are made under Tinubu’s administration.

“If the public had kept quiet, would convicted drug lords and kidnappers be walking free today under the President’s blessing?” he asked.

He demanded answers on who compiled the list of beneficiaries, what criteria were used to free such offenders, and why the Attorney-General endorsed what he called “a national embarrassment.”

Atiku said the government’s conduct had become predictable — making controversial decisions and reversing them only after public outrage.

Trump Pardons Binance Founder Changpeng Zhao, who was convicted for money-laundering.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has granted a presidential pardon to Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, who previously pleaded guilty to money-laundering-related charges while leading the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

The White House, in a statement issued Thursday by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, said Trump’s decision was an exercise of his constitutional authority and described Zhao’s prosecution under the Biden administration as part of a “war on cryptocurrency.”

“In their desire to punish the crypto industry, the Biden Administration pursued Mr. Zhao despite no allegations of fraud or identifiable victims,” Leavitt stated.

The pardon comes just two months after The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump family’s own crypto venture which has generated about $4.5 billion since the 2024 election was supported through a partnership with a trading platform linked to Binance.

Zhao had pleaded guilty in November 2023 to violating the Bank Secrecy Act and stepped down as Binance CEO as part of a $4.3 billion settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice. He was sentenced in April 2024 to four months in prison, though prosecutors had sought a three-year term.

Leavitt noted that the judge in Zhao’s case had described the government’s sentencing request as “unheard of in 30 years,” adding that the Biden administration’s actions “damaged America’s reputation as a leader in technology and innovation.”

“The Biden Administration’s war on crypto is over,” she declared.

Clemency: You’ve brought shame, scrap NDLEA, EFCC, ICPC – APC chieftain to Tinubu.

A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has called for the scrapping of some federal government agencies.

The agencies include the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

According Eze, these agencies have Iost their flavours to political Interferences, stressing that President Bola Tinubu’s presidential pardon of drug barons have further erodes public confidence in statutory Institutions.

The APC chieftain said as long as he remains a member of the ruling party it must be said categorically that Tinubu, by his action, has brought shame and reproach to the party.

Eze believes that no reasonable person would vote for the APC again as the President has made it unelectable in any election in this country.

Eze said that APC’s return to power in 2027 would mean that Nigerians approve of a regime that legitimizes illegality as a political strategy to sustain its odious reign beyond 2027.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Information and Strategy last week, said in a statement that out of the 175 beneficiaries of the Presidential pardon, 41 illegal miners, 28 drug traffickers and 22 murderers topped the list.

Notable among the 175 beneficiaries are Herbert Macaulay, one of Nigeria’s foremost nationalists; Farouk Lawan, a former member of the house of representatives; Mamman Vatsa, a major general and poet executed in 1986 over alleged treason; and Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death for killing her husband in 2017.

"Presidential pardon still under review, no inmate released yet" – FG reveals.

The Federal Government has clarified that no inmate has been released under the recently approved Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, explaining that the process is still undergoing final administrative review.

The clarification follows reports of President Bola Tinubu’s approval of 175 beneficiaries recommended by the Council of State, including the late Sir Herbert Macaulay, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and Major General Mamman Vatsa. The list also reportedly features Maryam Sanda—sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband and several others whose sentences were commuted or reduced based on the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.

In a statement on Thursday, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said no inmate has been freed yet, as the clemency process remains at its final administrative stage.

“The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice wishes to clarify that no inmate approved for clemency under the recent exercise of the President’s prerogative of mercy has been released,” Fagbemi said. “The process is still undergoing standard review to ensure all names and recommendations fully comply with legal and procedural requirements before any release order is issued.”

He explained that once verification is completed, the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service will receive formal authorisation to implement the releases.

Fagbemi emphasised that the review stage underscores the government’s commitment to due process, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law. He also welcomed public interest in the matter, describing it as a healthy sign of Nigeria’s growing democratic accountability.

“There is no delay in the process,” he assured. “It is simply following the law to ensure only duly qualified individuals benefit from the President’s mercy.”

He further pledged that updates would be provided once all verifications are concluded, adding: “The rule of law does not rush; it ensures fairness.”

Falana Asks Tinubu Government To Withdraw, Review List Of 175 Persons Granted Presidential Pardon

Presidential Pardon Still Under Review, Not Yet Final – AGF Fagbemi
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has clarified that no inmate approved for clemency under the recent exercise of President Bola Tinubu’s power of prerogative of mercy has been released from custody.

Nation in Shock as Tinubu Grants
Presidential Pardon to Murder Convict Miriam Sanda — Nigerians React with Outrage!


Nigeria’s social media space has erupted with outrage and disbelief following the presidential pardon granted to Miriam Sanda, the woman convicted in 2017 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved clemency for 175 inmates, including Sanda, in a move that has reignited debate about fairness, justice, and political influence in Nigeria’s legal system.

Appearing on Arise TV’s “What’s Trending,” broadcaster Rufai Oseni condemned the decision, calling it “a political mistake that reopens old wounds.”

“Tinubu should stop selling or gifting out pardons like recharge cards,” Rufai declared. “These decisions hurt families and destroy faith in the justice system. A country that cannot uphold justice cannot progress.”


Members of Bilyaminu Bello’s family expressed deep pain and disappointment. A spokesperson, Bello Muhammad, described the pardon as “the worst injustice any family could face,” lamenting that the clemency has “reopened the trauma of losing a loved one to violence.”

On the other hand, both Miriam Sanda’s father and her late husband’s father defended the pardon, claiming that the plea for mercy began in 2019 and was meant to promote forgiveness and ensure the wellbeing of the couple’s two children.

However, public reaction has largely been critical. Many Nigerians argue that pardoning a convicted murderer while the country continues to battle insecurity, corruption, and lawlessness sends “a dangerous message.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also criticized the decision, calling it “reckless and indefensible,” and accusing the presidency of weakening Nigeria’s moral foundation.

As the debate intensifies, the country appears sharply divided — between those advocating forgiveness and those demanding justice. For many, the question now is whether Nigeria’s justice system still upholds accountability or if, as Rufai Oseni warned, “presidential pardons have become another political gift.”

Primate Ayodele Blasts Tinubu, Says Release Nnamdi Kanu, You Wasted NDLEA, Security Operatives Effort.

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

He was reacting on Tuesday after President Bola Tinubu granted a presidential pardon to murderers, corrupt officials, and criminals.

According to him, some of those he pardoned had been sentenced to death, life sentences for crimes relating to drug trafficking, murder, and human trafficking, to mention but a few.

In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele described the action as wasting the efforts of the NDLEA and security operatives who arrested and convicted the criminals.

He stated that the criminals will continue to cause issues in the country and add to the troubles of security operatives, despite the current situation of insecurity in the country.

Primate Ayodele said: “Why must he pardon criminals, cocaine pushers? It’s just like wasting the efforts of these security operatives to arrest these criminals.

These criminals will continue to cause issues in society; you can’t separate them from crime.”

He said since it was easy for the president to pardon the criminals, it’s unfair to allow Nnamdi Kanu to still be behind bars without sentencing for several years.

Don’t let anyone take your life’ – Kemi Afolabi reacts to Tinubu’s presidential pardon for convicted murderer.

Popular Nigerian actress, Kemi Afolabi, has reacted to President Tinubu’s presidential pardon for convicted murderers and drug barons.

The Nigerian president, Bola Tinubu granted a presidential pardon to 175 criminals.

The beneficiaries according to a release by Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on Media and Public Information have 28 drug traffickers, 41 illegal miners and 22 murderers topping the list.

The controversial presidential pardon has sparked diverse reactions from Nigerians, with many politicians, groups and Nigerian elite calling for the reverse.

Reacting to the presidential pardon for murders, actress Kemi Afolabi urged netizens to protect their lives by any means necessary.

Speaking on her Instagram story, she wrote: “Do not allow anyone to take your life, guard it with all your being. Be it in marriage, friendship, courtship or any kind of relationship”.

She gave the advice after the family of late Bilyaminu Ahmed condemned the pardon of Maryam Sandain, a convicted murderer.

Bilyaminu was murdered in 2017 by his wife, Maryam Sandain who was sentenced to death by hanging in January 2020.

I Am Happy”- Father Of Murdered Bilyaminu Bello Appreciates Presidential Pardon For Maryam Sanda

The father of the late Bilyaminu Bello, Alhaji Ahmed Bello Isa, has expressed delight with the decision of President Bola Tinubu to grant a pardon to Maryam Sanda over the killing of his son.

Isa, in a press conference on Tuesday, disclosed that he had totally forgiven Sanda even before the court sentenced her to jail over the death of her husband.

The father added that Sanda’s freedom would give her the opportunity to take care of her two children.

He added that he has accepted all that happened as the will of God, noting that whatever punitive measure inflicted against her daughter-in-law would not bring back his own son, but forgiveness can bring peace.

“I am happy that the father of the nation has released Maryam so that she can look after her children.

“We as Muslims accept whatever comes from Almighty Allah. I have forgiven her and bear no grudges against the Federal Government or her family. Vengeance cannot bring back my son, but forgiveness can bring peace,” he said.

Maryam Sanda was accused of killing her husband in November 2017 following a domestic dispute in Abuja.

She was subsequently convicted by the court and sentenced to death by hanging in January 2020.

Father of Late Bilyaminu Bello Reveals He Pleaded with President Tinubu to Pardon Maryam Sanda.

The biological father of the late Bilyaminu Bello, Alhaji Ahmed Bello Isa, has expressed his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to grant presidential pardon to his daughter-in-law, Maryam Sanda, who was convicted for the murder of her husband in 2017.

Speaking during a joint interview in Abuja with Maryam’s father, Alhaji Garba Sanda, Alhaji Bello disclosed that he had personally appealed to President Tinubu for clemency, saying his request was driven by humanitarian reasons and compassion for his two grandchildren.

According to him, executing Maryam would not bring back his son but would only deepen the tragedy by leaving the children without parental care.

“As a devout Muslim, I accepted the tragic event as the will of Allah. I have forgiven Maryam for what happened,” he said. “Before the end of the trial, I appealed to both the police and the court to drop the case because I did not want my grandchildren to lose their mother after losing their father. If she were executed, who would raise them with love?”

Reacting to reports that some members of the family opposed the pardon, he maintained that everyone is entitled to their opinion but emphasized that, as the biological father, he has fully forgiven Maryam.

On his part, Alhaji Garba Sanda, Maryam’s father, expressed profound gratitude to Alhaji Bello and his family for their extraordinary show of forgiveness, describing it as “a true act of faith and humanity.”

“Words cannot express how grateful we are for this gesture of mercy and reconciliation. We pray that healing continues for both families and that the children grow up surrounded by love and peace,” he said.

Both families reaffirmed their decision to embrace forgiveness, compassion, and unity, pledging to work together to raise the late Bilyaminu’s children in an environment of peace and love.

Father of Late Bilyaminu Bello Reveals He Pleaded with President Tinubu to Pardon Maryam Sanda.

The biological father of the late Bilyaminu Bello, Alhaji Ahmed Bello Isa, has expressed his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to grant presidential pardon to his daughter-in-law, Maryam Sanda, who was convicted for the murder of her husband in 2017.

Speaking during a joint interview in Abuja with Maryam’s father, Alhaji Garba Sanda, Alhaji Bello disclosed that he had personally appealed to President Tinubu for clemency, saying his request was driven by humanitarian reasons and compassion for his two grandchildren.

According to him, executing Maryam would not bring back his son but would only deepen the tragedy by leaving the children without parental care.

“As a devout Muslim, I accepted the tragic event as the will of Allah. I have forgiven Maryam for what happened,” he said. “Before the end of the trial, I appealed to both the police and the court to drop the case because I did not want my grandchildren to lose their mother after losing their father. If she were executed, who would raise them with love?”

Reacting to reports that some members of the family opposed the pardon, he maintained that everyone is entitled to their opinion but emphasized that, as the biological father, he has fully forgiven Maryam.

On his part, Alhaji Garba Sanda, Maryam’s father, expressed profound gratitude to Alhaji Bello and his family for their extraordinary show of forgiveness, describing it as “a true act of faith and humanity.”

“Words cannot express how grateful we are for this gesture of mercy and reconciliation. We pray that healing continues for both families and that the children grow up surrounded by love and peace,” he said.

Both families reaffirmed their decision to embrace forgiveness, compassion, and unity, pledging to work together to raise the late Bilyaminu’s children in an environment of peace and love.

Meet Notorious Kidnap Kingpin Pardoned by President Tinubu.

A wave of outrage and disbelief has trailed the release of 44-year-old Kelvin Prosper Oniarah — the infamous Delta-born kidnap kingpin once declared one of Nigeria’s most dangerous criminals — following his inclusion in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s latest round of presidential pardons.

Oniarah, also known by his aliases Kelvin Ibruvwe and Kelvin Ezigbe, was arrested on September 25, 2013, in a joint operation by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Army. He was subsequently convicted for multiple counts of kidnapping, armed robbery, and terrorism-related offences that terrorised parts of Delta, Edo, Anambra, and Rivers States for years.

Trail of Violence and Terror
Before his arrest, Kelvin was the leader of a feared criminal syndicate responsible for high-profile kidnappings and killings. Among his victims was renowned human rights lawyer, Barrister Mike Ozekhome (SAN), abducted on August 24, 2013, along the Auchi–Benin expressway.

Other victims linked to his gang included:

A serving judge of the Edo State Judiciary,
A female Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) official,
Dr. Chudi Nwike, former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, who was killed in captivity,
Several National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and security personnel.
Kelvin’s network operated from camps in Warri and Kokori (Delta State), Ugbokolo (Benue), Benin City (Edo), and Aba (Abia State). His reign of terror also saw the killing of numerous policemen and soldiers during deadly ambushes.

Defiance Against the State
In a chilling episode that underscored his notoriety, Oniarah publicly issued a 60-day ultimatum to the Federal Government in September 2013, demanding the release of his detained gang members or face nationwide bloodshed — a threat that prompted one of the most extensive manhunts in Nigeria’s history.

Conviction and Release
Oniarah was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in October 2023, with his sentence backdated to 2013. It was later reduced to 13 years for what prison officials described as “good conduct” and participation in the National Open University of Nigeria correctional education programme.

His sudden release under the Tinubu administration’s controversial amnesty programme has sparked a storm of criticism from security analysts and victims’ families, who argue that granting clemency to an unrepentant criminal undermines justice and the fight against violent crime.

Kelvin’s freedom, after 12 years behind bars, now raises serious questions about the moral compass of the nation’s justice system

Tinubu Grants Presidential Pardon for Herbert Macaulay,  175 Nigerians

On Thursday, the Council of State approved the exercise of the presidential prerogative of mercy for 175 persons across different categories.

The decision followed a presentation by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s recommendations based on the report of the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy during the council meeting held at the State House, Abuja.

Although the full list of beneficiaries is yet to be released, pardons were granted to Herbert Macaulay, Nigeria’s nationalist icon, and Maj.-Gen. Mamman Vatsa (retd.), a former FCT minister, was executed in 1986 under the Babangida regime. Members of the Ogoni Nine and Ogoni Four were also named among the beneficiaries.

Macaulay, regarded as the father of Nigerian nationalism, was twice jailed by the British colonial authorities — in 1913 for alleged fund misappropriation and in 1928 for sedition following his newspaper’s publication during the Eleko of Lagos crisis. Historians have long questioned the fairness of his convictions.

Vatsa, a poet and member of the Supreme Military Council, was executed by firing squad for an alleged coup attempt, a case that has remained controversial for decades, with repeated calls for a posthumous pardon.

Of the 175 approved cases, 82 inmates received full pardons, 65 had their sentences reduced, while seven death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State said the decision reflects President Tinubu’s “commitment to justice, fairness, and correctional reform.”

The meeting, chaired by the President, also ratified key appointments, including Dr Aminu Yusuf from Niger State as Chairman of the National Population Commission and Tonge Bularafa as Federal Commissioner representing Yobe State. 

Both nominations were unanimously endorsed.

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday granted presidential pardon to one of Nigeria’s founding fathers, Herbert Macaulay, and former FCT minister in the Babangida regime, Major General Mamman Vatsa (retd).