Catholic Church, Ngige Deny Alleged Assault On Priest

The Catholic Diocese of Awka, in Anambra state, has denied reports over an alleged assault on one of the priests by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Chris Ngige.

In a separate press conference held in Awka, the state capital, the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, Rev. Fr. Chuddy Akaenyi, and a senior officer of the of the party, Mr. Okwy Adogu said the church is not aware of any brawl between the priest and the senator, describing such reports as false.

Akaenyi described the situation as unfortunate, adding that, it is wrong that such rumour found spaces on the pages of some newspapers as well as in the electronic media.

He said “Senator Chris Ngige attended the funeral ceremony of the mother of our bishop on October 24, this year. He was among many other dignitaries that graced the occasion and what I am hearing now is very strange to me. I was there and I did not see what people are saying now or writing in the press.

“I want to tell you that the reports that Senator Ngige slapped a Reverend Father is absolutely false and I repeat, absolutely false. Anybody or group of persons may decide to say anything to achieve anything. But we are not in politics and nobody can use the church for any political interest.

“Three policemen were stopped by Father (Everistus) but some people in their rudeness and desperation to enter the place pushed the gate open and many people who were not invited surged into the place”.

“The policemen that pushed the gate open were not attached to Ngige and they did not even attack or slap the Rev. Father as alleged,” he insisted.

A section of the print and online media  had reported that Rev. Fr. Evaristus Ezekwonna was slapped by Senator Ngige in an attempt to stop some police officers from gaining access into the Bishop’s Court during a condolence visit to the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Rev. Fr. Paulinus Ezeokafor, on the death of his mother.

Meanwhile, the APC governorship candidate, Senator Chris Ngige, who is also a Knight of the Catholic Church, has warned opposition parties to avoid the use of malicious statements to overheat the polity.