By Ameh Gabriel
Abuja, Nigeria A coalition of Nigerian lawyers has petitioned the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to urgently intervene in the plight of over 200 Nigerian citizens currently detained under harsh and inhuman conditions in prisons across the Republic of Benin.
The petition, signed by legal practitioner Deji Adeyanju on behalf of the detainees, revealed that many Nigerians, including Ekene Bonaventure, Chigozie Chiedozie, and Hassan Ebbe, are being held without formal charges, fair trial, or legal representation. According to the petitioners, these conditions violate internationally accepted human rights standards and have already led to tragic deaths.
One detainee, identified as Salami Deyomi from Lagos State, reportedly died recently due to overcrowding and lack of medical care in prison custody.
The lawyers noted that the detentions contravene the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Residence and Establishment as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which guarantee liberty, dignity, and fair hearing for citizens of member states.
They urged the Senate to:
Launch a fact-finding mission through its Committees on Foreign Affairs, Diaspora Relations, and Human Rights.
Direct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Cotonou to secure consular access for the detainees.
Apply diplomatic pressure on Benin Republic to comply with ECOWAS and AU human rights obligations.
“The credibility of Nigeria as a nation is measured by how strongly it defends the rights and dignity of its citizens, both at home and abroad,” the petition stressed.
A list of over 125 detainees has already been submitted to the Senate, with indications that many more Nigerians may be languishing in different prisons across Benin Republic.
The petition was also copied to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), and the Embassy of Benin Republic in Abuja.
