In response to circulating rumors, the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki in Ebonyi State has issued a statement refuting claims that one of its priests recently wedded his lover in the state.

The report, which surfaced on social media, alleged that a Catholic priest named Jude Obasi tied the knot with his partner on May 25th in Abakaliki, the state capital. The purported wedding was said to have taken place at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Abakaliki, with a photograph circulating online showing the priest and his supposed bride in wedding attire.

However, the Diocesan Chancellor, Matthew Opoke, has dismissed the claims, stating that there is no priest by the name of Jude Obasi within the diocese. Furthermore, he emphasized that the individual in the viral photograph does not resemble any priest known to the diocese.

Additionally, Opoke clarified that there is no church named Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Abakaliki, and no such event occurred in the area during the specified period.

Opoke attributed the misinformation to a possible attempt by a blogger to garner increased traffic on their social media platforms. He asserted that the publication in question is false.

Subsequent investigations by PREMIUM TIMES revealed that the photograph accompanying the report originated from an unrelated incident in Kenya in October 2023. The image depicts a Kenyan Catholic priest named Edwin Gathang’i Waiguru, who married his longtime friend, Margaret Wanjira Githui. Waiguru had reportedly joined a Roman Catholic splinter group known as the Catholic Charismatic Church.

Residents of Afikpo North Local Government Area corroborated the diocese’s statement, affirming that no such event occurred in the area. An independent journalist from the region also confirmed the absence of any incident resembling the alleged wedding.

The Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki has denied the reports of a priest’s wedding, labeling them as false and misleading.