(ZENIT News / Lokoja, Nigeria, 24.07.2024).- The Catholic Diocese of Lokoja has deauthorized officially and publicly the Ordination of four Deacons who turned out to be impostors. These individuals, who introduced themselves as Missionaries of the Paraclete, succeeded in deceiving the Bishop and the Diocese with falsified documents and certificates. The announcement was made on July 19, a week after the Ordination ceremony, which took place on July 12 of this year.
The deceit was revealed when one of the ordained Deacons, Aloysius Kubiatabasi Ebong, was recognized by the congregation as a false priest who had been seen in military barracks pretending to celebrate Masses. The diocesan Chancellor, Father Augustine Okafor, explained that a meticulously orchestrated plan had led to the Ordination of these impostors. The alleged Superior General of the Missionaries of the Paraclete, Father Stephen Obioma Nwaigwe, handed fraudulent documents to Bishop Martin Dada Abejide Olorunmolu, to validate the suitability of the candidates.
Father Nwaigwe gave the Bishop a series of false documents, including letters of recommendation and certificates of formation, assuring that the candidates fulfilled the requirements of Canon Law. These documents were handed to the Bishop a month after the initial request, which led to the Ordination of the four men on July 12, 2024.
After discovering the farce, the Diocese of Lokoja stated that it would not recognize the four individuals as Deacons. “At no time were they known as members of our diocese. They deceived us and much of the blame falls on the alleged ‘Superior General’, Father Stephen Obioma Nwaigwe,” stated the official press release.
The Diocese is exploring appropriate canonical measures to address this serious incident. It has also urged the faithful to keep calm and to pray for the Church and its leaders. Investigations are underway to determine how this deceit occurred, and if measures are being taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Missionaries of the Paraclete were presented as an Association founded in Tanzania by Bishop Telesphore Richard Mkude. According to Father Nwaigwe, this Congregation was present in several dioceses in Nigeria, running hospitals and houses of formation. However, all this information was part of the deceit.
