Home Metro Nigerian Pastor, 18-year-old son detained in Benin Republic for nearly four months — RULAAC
Nigerian Pastor, 18-year-old son detained in Benin Republic for nearly four months — RULAAC
Jeremiah Adeshina
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the reported prolonged detention of a Nigerian pastor, Pastor Alabo Ika Pere, and his 18-year-old son, David Alabo, in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
RULAAC, in a statement signed by it’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said the two Nigerians were reportedly arrested on May 17, 2026, and had remained in detention for nearly four months at the Maison d’Arrêt de Cotonou, also known as Cotonou Civil Prison.
The organisation said it had written to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Nigeria in Cotonou and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), seeking immediate diplomatic and consular intervention.
According to RULAAC, the intervention is necessary to establish the circumstances and legal basis of the continued detention, ascertain the welfare of the two Nigerians and ensure that their due-process rights are respected.
RULAAC said information obtained from the family and the leadership of the Greater Evangelism World Crusade, Island Branch, indicated that Pastor Pere, a certified underwater diver and underwater welder, travelled to Cotonou with his son after he was professionally engaged to carry out underwater welding work on a vessel.
The organisation said the family alleged that law-enforcement officers subsequently conducted an operation on the vessel following the reported discovery of contraband goods and arrested persons found aboard.
The family reportedly maintains that Pastor Pere and David had no ownership interest in or operational control over the vessel and were unaware of or involved in any alleged contraband.
According to the family, Pastor Pere was aboard solely to perform the welding services for which he had been contracted, while David accompanied him as an assistant welder.
RULAAC, however, stressed that it had not independently established the circumstances surrounding the alleged contraband or the evidence available to the Beninese authorities.
It therefore called for immediate Nigerian consular intervention to establish the facts of the case.
Nearly four months in detention
The human-rights organisation expressed concern that Pastor Pere and his son had reportedly remained in custody since May 17 without the family being informed of any formal charges or trial.
RULAAC said the family remained uncertain about the precise legal basis for the continued detention.
It added that although their Cotonou-based lawyer, Barrister Jaurès Ahs, had reportedly been allowed to visit them once, the family and church had not been granted access to the detainees.
RULAAC said the identification of the prison where the two Nigerians were being held should enable Nigerian consular officials to visit them and independently ascertain their welfare, legal status and conditions of detention.
It said the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the case raised serious concerns about access to justice and observance of due process.
‘Nigeria must establish the facts’
RULAAC acknowledged the sovereign authority of the Republic of Benin to investigate and prosecute alleged offences committed within its territory, stressing that Nigerian citizenship did not confer immunity from legitimate criminal investigation or prosecution abroad.
However, the organisation maintained that suspicion of an offence did not extinguish a detainee’s fundamental rights.
It urged Nigerian diplomatic and consular authorities to establish the specific allegations against Pastor Pere and David individually, determine whether they had been formally charged and establish whether and when they had appeared before a competent judicial authority.
RULAAC also called for clarification of any judicial orders authorising their continued detention since May 17.
The organisation urged the Nigerian Embassy to ascertain whether there was evidence individually linking either man to the alleged contraband, rather than allowing culpability to be inferred solely from their reported presence aboard the vessel.
Consular access urgently needed
RULAAC said the circumstances of the case engaged important protections under Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations concerning communication and access between consular officials and nationals detained abroad.
It also cited Articles 6 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, relating to liberty, protection against arbitrary detention and the right to have one’s case heard.
The organisation therefore called on the Nigerian Embassy in Cotonou to urgently visit Pastor Pere and David at the Maison d’Arrêt de Cotonou, ascertain their physical and psychological welfare and conditions of detention, engage their lawyer and obtain authoritative information from the relevant Beninese authorities concerning the allegations and proceedings.
It also called for the family to be provided with accurate information about the detainees’ legal situation and, subject to applicable prison regulations, facilitated to communicate with them.
RULAAC raises concern over 18-year-old
RULAAC expressed particular concern over David, who is 18 years old and, according to his family, travelled to Benin with his father in the capacity of an assistant welder.
The organisation said his age and reported subordinate role made it particularly important to establish what evidence, if any, linked him personally to the alleged offence.
It stressed that criminal responsibility must be determined individually and on the basis of evidence, adding that mere presence at a location where suspected contraband was discovered should not substitute for proof of individual criminal responsibility.
‘Release Them If There Is No Evidence’
RULAAC said it was not asking the Nigerian Government to obstruct a legitimate investigation or pressure Benin to release anyone against whom credible evidence of criminal conduct exists.
Rather, it called for either a formal and fair legal process or the release of the detainees if there was no credible evidence linking them individually to the alleged offence.
“If credible evidence exists against either Pastor Pere or David, the person concerned should be formally charged, given effective access to counsel and afforded a prompt and fair trial,” the organisation said.
“If there is no credible evidence connecting either of them individually to the alleged offence, they should be released without further delay.”
RULAAC maintained that prolonged detention accompanied by uncertainty over the allegations, charges, judicial proceedings and prospects for resolution should not be allowed to continue.
The organisation urged the Minister of Foreign Affairs to direct immediate diplomatic engagement and the Nigerian Embassy in Cotonou to urgently visit the detainees and engage the competent authorities of the Republic of Benin.
It also called on NiDCOM to follow up on the case and work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Embassy, the detainees’ lawyer and their family to ensure that the rights and legitimate interests of the two Nigerian citizens are protected.
“The family deserves clear information. The detainees deserve due process. And after nearly four months in detention, Nigeria’s consular authorities should act with urgency,” RULAAC said.
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