The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently intervene in the prolonged detention of two Nigerian citizens, Pastor Alabo Ika Pere and his 18-year-old son, David Alabo, in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
RULAAC made the call on Wednesday in a statement issued by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma.
The rights group said following further information received from the family, it has now established that the two Nigerians were reportedly arrested on 17 May 2026, rather than in June as earlier communicated, and are being held at the Maison d’Arrêt de Cotonou (Cotonou Civil Prison/Prison Civile de Cotonou).
“They have therefore reportedly remained in detention for nearly four months,” RULAAC said.
It further said that it has communicated the development to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Embassy in Benin Republic and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, seeking for consular intervention in the issue.
“RULAAC has written to the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Cotonou, and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), requesting immediate diplomatic and consular intervention to establish the circumstances and legal basis of their continued detention, ascertain their welfare and ensure respect for their due-process rights,” RULAAC said.
It noted that detained Nigerians were arrested while reportedly carrying out welding work.
“According to information provided to RULAAC by their family and the leadership of the Greater Evangelism World Crusade, Island Branch, Pastor Pere, who is a certified underwater diver and underwater welder, travelled with his son David to Cotonou after being professionally engaged to undertake underwater welding work on a vessel.
“The family states that while they were aboard the vessel, law-enforcement officers carried out an operation following the alleged discovery of contraband goods and arrested persons found on board.
“The family maintains that Pastor Pere and David had no ownership interest in or operational control over the vessel and had no knowledge of or involvement in the alleged contraband.
“According to them, the two Nigerians were aboard solely to perform the welding services for which Pastor Pere had been contracted, with David accompanying his father as an assistant welder.”
However, RULAAC said it had not independently established the circumstances surrounding the alleged contraband or the evidence available to the Beninese authorities, insisting that immediate Nigerian consular intervention would be essential to establishing the facts.
RULAAC expressed concern that Pastor Pere and David have reportedly remained in custody since 17 May 2026 and are currently being held at the Maison d’Arrêt de Cotonou.
It added that information from the family showed that no formal charges have been communicated to them, no trial is known to have commenced, and they remain uncertain about the precise legal basis for the continued detention.
“Although their Cotonou-based lawyer, Barrister Jaurès Ahs, has reportedly been permitted one visit, the family and church say they have not been granted access to the detainees.
“The reported place of detention now being known should make it possible for Nigerian consular officials to urgently visit them and independently ascertain their welfare, legal status and conditions of detention.
“The prolonged uncertainty raises serious concerns about access to justice and observance of due process.”
While stating its recognition of the sovereign authority of the Republic of Benin to investigate offences committed within the country and the fact that Nigerian citizenship cannot give immunity from criminal investigation, RULAAC insisted that suspicion does not take away fundamental rights.
“RULAAC recognises the sovereign authority of the Republic of Benin to investigate and prosecute offences committed within its territory.
“Nigerian citizenship cannot provide immunity from legitimate criminal investigation or prosecution abroad.
“However, suspicion of an offence does not extinguish a detainee’s fundamental rights,” RULAAC said.
It urged Nigerian authorities to establish the allegations against Pastor Pere and his son, David, and whether proper procedures are being followed in the matter by the Beninese authorities.
“Nigeria’s diplomatic and consular authorities should urgently establish the precise allegations against Pastor Pere and David individually; whether they have been formally charged; whether and when they have appeared before a competent judicial authority; and the judicial orders, if any, authorising their continued detention since 17 May.
“The Embassy should also ascertain whether there is evidence individually linking either man to the alleged contraband, rather than allowing culpability to be inferred merely from their reported presence aboard the vessel.”
RULAAC said consular access is particularly urgent in the matter as the circumstances have provisions in international conventions and protocols.
“The circumstances engage important protections under Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, concerning communication and access between consular officials and their nationals detained abroad.
“The case also raises concerns under Articles 6 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, relating respectively to liberty, protection against arbitrary detention and the right to have one’s cause heard.
“RULAAC therefore calls on the Nigerian Embassy in Cotonou to urgently undertake a consular visit to 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 against them.
“Their family should also be provided with accurate information about their legal situation and, subject to applicable prison regulations, facilitated to communicate with them.”
RULAAC also expressed concern of the detention of Pastor Pere’s 18-year-old son, David.
“RULAAC remains particularly concerned about David Alabo, who is only 18 years old and, according to his family, travelled with his father as an assistant welder.
“His young age and reported subordinate role make it particularly important to establish what evidence, if any, connects him personally to the alleged offence.
“Criminal responsibility must be determined individually and on evidence. Mere presence at a location where suspected contraband is discovered should not, without evidence satisfying the requirements of applicable law, become a substitute for proof of individual criminal responsibility,” the organization said.
Calling for the release of the detained pastor and his son if there is no evidence to prosecute them, RULAAC said it is unacceptable that they would be detained for such long time with allegations against them uncertain.
“RULAAC is not asking the Nigerian Government to obstruct a legitimate investigation or to pressure the Republic of Benin to release persons against whom credible evidence of criminal conduct exists.
“Our position remains straightforward: 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.
“If there is no credible evidence connecting either of them individually to the alleged offence, they should be released without further delay.
“What should not be acceptable is prolonged detention accompanied by uncertainty over the allegations, charges, judicial proceedings and prospects for resolution of the case.
“With their reported place of detention now identified as the Maison d’Arrêt de Cotonou and their arrest date clarified as 17 May 2026, there should be no further delay in Nigerian consular authorities establishing their circumstances directly.”
RULAAC called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs to direct immediate diplomatic engagement on the Nigerian Embassy in Cotonou to urgently visit the detainees and engage the competent authorities of the Republic of Benin.
“We also urge NiDCOM to follow up on the case and work with the Ministry, Embassy, their lawyer and 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 insisted.
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