Anglican priest resigns, accuses church of taking his wife

Rev Canon LumenCristi Eboh, has resigned as a priest of the Anglican Communion following what he described as troubles instigated by the Diocesan authorities.

Eboh said the issue which affected his private life as a family man, led to his wife abandoning and leaving their home and moving to an undisclosed place.

According to Eboh, his wife was soon bought over by forces working within the diocese to become instrument of subversion and opposition against him.

Disclosing his resignation at a press conference in Awka on Monday, the priest accused his Diocesan Bishop, Owen Nwokolo, of witch-hunt and land grabbing.

He cited harassment, instigation and conspiracy by the diocesan authourities of the Anglican Diocese on the Niger, especially from Bishop Owen Nwokolo, as reasons for his resignation.

Eboh, who owns a charismatic congregation and prayer ministry, God in Action Adoration Ministry, also alleged that the Bishop wanted to take his personal land where the ministry was located.

While alluding that his involvement in charismatic activities were at the centre of his conflict with Bishop Owen Nwokolo, he accused the Bishop of high handedness, intimidation and conspiratorial manipulations, noting that the three reasons gave rise to his decision to resign.

The priest, who is a radio and television evangelist, added: “The Bishop insisted that the registered trustees of the adoration ministry be altered to include him (the Bishop and his wife), a condition I resisted on the basis that God did not reveal the Bishop to me as a vessel in the ministry.

“My refusal to include the Bishop as trustee as demanded and to hand over landed property of the adoration ministry to him set me on collision course with the Bishop.

“As I speak, my wife is living differently in an apartment paid for by someone who knows that she is someone’s wife,” Rev Eboh said.

“The diocesan authourities used stooges and agents to try to smear my character, including spreading rumours of sexual misconduct and voodooism against me.

“I am only a priest permitted by my communion to enter the sacred institution of marriage. As a married man, I had very private moments with my wife and we shared endearing words just like every young couple. With the crash of my marriage, I have sought to reorder my life, but those fighting me have even sent young women here in attempt to use prospects of marriage to malign my character and reputation.”

Bishop Nwokolo could not be reached for comments as he did not pick calls put across to his telephone line.

However, a priest who is close to the Bishop and who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that Canon Eboh was sacked by the Diocese before he tendered his resignation letter.