Deji Adeyanju and Partners, a law firm based in Abuja, has formally appealed to the Nigerian Senate for immediate action regarding the dire circumstances of more than 200 Nigerian nationals reportedly held in deplorable conditions within prisons in the neighboring Republic of Benin.
In a letter dated September 16, 2025, addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the firm, led by prominent human rights advocate Deji Adeyanju Esq., declared they represent several detainees at the Civil Prison of Adjagbo Abomey Calavi in Benin. Among those named were Ekene Bonaventure, Chigozie Chiedozie, Hassan Ebbe, alongside over 125 other impoverished Nigerians.
The correspondence characterized the treatment of these prisoners as a severe breach of their fundamental human rights, highlighting that many are being held without formal indictments, denied fair trials or hearings, and subjected to cruel, degrading, and inhumane conditions that violate globally recognized human rights norms.
The firm emphasized that such abuses contravene binding international agreements ratified by both Nigeria and Benin, including the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Residence and Establishment (1979, as amended), as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, incorporated into Nigerian law as Cap A9 of the Laws of the Federation.
Moreover, the letter revealed that numerous detainees have been deprived of legal representation, medical care, and essential living conditions. Tragically, these neglectful circumstances led to the recent death of Salami Deyomi from Lagos State, attributed to overcrowded cells and lack of medical intervention.
In response, the law firm called on the Senate, under the stewardship of President Akpabio, to undertake three critical measures: first, to establish a Senate-led fact-finding delegation involving the committees on Foreign Affairs, Diaspora Relations, and Human Rights to thoroughly investigate the welfare of Nigerians imprisoned in Benin; second, to instruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Cotonou to guarantee consular access to all detained nationals; and third, to exert diplomatic and legislative pressure on Benin to ensure adherence to ECOWAS and African Union human rights obligations.
Highlighting the importance of national integrity, the lawyers asserted that Nigeria’s international reputation hinges on its commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of its citizens, both domestically and abroad.
Attached to the letter was a comprehensive roster listing over 120 detainees from various Nigerian states, with the firm noting that additional Nigerians may be incarcerated under similar conditions in other Beninese facilities.
Copies of the letter were also sent to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), and the Embassy of the Republic of Benin in Abuja.
At the time of reporting, the Nigerian Senate had not yet issued an official response to the appeal.
