Father Mbaka Followers Protest Over Ministry Suspension

Followers of Rev. Fr Ejike Mbaka, Catholic cleric and spiritual director, Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN) have protested on Sunday, 19 June, 2022, against his ministry Suspension by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Reverend Callistus Onaga.

On Saturday, the Bishop had ordered all Catholics to stop visiting the ministry till further notice.

He said it was because, some of Mbaka’s teaching and words were not consistent with the teachings and faith of the Catholic Church.

After the Bishop’s order, some of the followers of Rev Mbaka came out to protest against Onaga at the Adoration Ground.

They also attacked journalist and press members who dared take pictures of the protest.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a BBC Igbo reporter was also forcefully stopped from taking pictures by the protesters.

In the meantime, a human rights organization, Civil Rights Realization and Advancement Network has describe the Bishop’s ban pronouncement as illegal, saying it is a grave attack on the constitutional right of freedom of worship, religion and association.

In a notice, given on Sunday, by the organization President, Olu Omotayo, titled, “Closure of Adoration Worship Center is a grave attack on the constitutional right of freedom of religion, worship and association of millions of Nigerians worshipping threats.”

He asked the Enugu Catholic Diocese to go back from what it described as its dangerous incursion into politics and allow people to freely choose where they like to worship.