By Charles Igwe
The Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki has officially refuted claims circulating on social media about the alleged marriage of a Reverend Father Jude Obasi. The diocese released a detailed disclaimer to address the widespread misinformation that has garnered significant online attention.
In the statement, Rev. Fr. Matthew Uzoma Opoke, the Diocesan Chancellor, clarified several points. He emphasized that there is no priest by the name of Jude Obasi within the diocese. Additionally, the individual depicted in the viral images does not resemble any priest from the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki. The statement further clarified that no indigenous priest named Jude Obasi exists in Afikpo North LGA, either within the Diocese of Abakaliki or elsewhere in the world.
The diocese also addressed the purported location of the wedding, stating that St. Mary’s Catholic Church Abakaliki, the alleged venue, does not exist within their jurisdiction. Furthermore, no event resembling the described wedding of a priest or ex-priest occurred on the stated date.
The diocesan statement strongly condemned the publication as false, suggesting it was likely fabricated by a blogger seeking to increase traffic on their social media platforms ahead of the anticipated monetization of Meta (Facebook) pages in Nigeria. The diocese urged the public to disregard the false information, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity and truthfulness of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki.
This disclaimer aims to clear any confusion and uphold the reputation of the diocese amidst the spread of misleading information.
