…as the Catholic Diocese of Awka disassociates self from the priest’s business transactions
The Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, presided over by Hon. Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, has adjourned to January 24, 25, 26, 2023, for continued proceeding in the case between the Inspector General of Police (Complainant) and Rev. Father Ejike Nwankwo, (Defendant).
The Inspector General of Police had in a Charge No. FHC/AWK/C/31/21, dragged the priest to the Federal High Court in Awka on two count charge.
The Charge reads, “That you Reverend Father Ejike Nwankwo, male, of Maryland Catholic Centre Okpuno Awka sometime in the month of December, 2020 at Umunze within the Judicial Division of the Honourable Court did commit the offence of Obtaining Property by False Pretence in that, with intent to defraud, you fraudulently deceived one Nnenna Ezenwa, female, by telling her that you would sell your company called HavilaGold Inter-Biz Imprex Nig. Ltd, a subsidiary of Ejikmary Nig. Limited, lying and situate at Kilometer 1 Umuchu Road Umunze to her and obtained the sum of N4,025,000 from her on the pretence that you would use it to repair some items of the company and after collecting the money from her, you mobilized hoodlums, forcefully chased her and her staff away and locked up the premises without recourse to her investment; you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(i) (a) (c) and punishable under section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act, 2004.
Count II: That you Reverend Father Ejike Nwankwo, male, of Maryland Catholic Centre Okpuno Awka, sometime in the month of December, 2020 at Umunze within the Judicial Division of the Honourable Court did commit the offence of Obtaining Property by False Pretence in that, with intent to defraud, you fraudulently deceived one Nnenna Ezenwa, female, by telling her that you would sell your company called HavilaGold Inter-Biz Imprex Nig. Ltd, a subsidiary of Ejikmary Nig. Limited lying and situate at Kilometer 1 Umuchu Road Umunze and based on your representation, she accepted to buy and invest over N26,986,000 in purchasing Generator, CCTV Camera, TV Sets, DSTV, GOTV and other TV Decoders, bags of Flour, Fuel, Diesel, drinks, meats, chicken, loaves of bread, fire woods, chairs, washing pan, other items; repairing of the following items: bread oven X3 and equipping it, fuel pumps, tanks, floors, gutter, soak-away well, change of plumbing, and other items, and when you discovered that she had developed the company to high standard of operation, you mobilized hoodlums, forcefully chased her and her staff away and locked up the premises without recourse to her investment: you thereby committed an offense contrary to section 1(i) (a) (c) and punishable under section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act, 2004.
Hon. Justice Dimgba had on June 16, 2022, when the case came up for hearing, directed the parties to the case, Rev Ejike Nwankwo, Mr P.A. Ogele, Prosecutor from Zone 13 Police Zonal Command Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government Area, Anambra State and Mrs Nnenna Ezenwa, to go and resolve the matter out of Court and report back to the Court.
The Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, had also in a letter, entitled “Penal Precept Ex. CAN.1319 & 1, addressed to Rev. Fr. Innocent Ejike Nwankwo dated March 28, 2022, which was also copied to Mrs. Nnenna Ezenwa, directed the priest to within the six months of the letter settle with Mrs Nnenna Ezenwa.
The Bishop letter read in part, “Dear Fr. Innocent, Penal Precept Ex. CAN. 1319 & 1.” “Clerics are forbidden to practice commerce or trade, either personally or through another, for their own or another’s benefit… ” (Can .286). Rather clerics have special obligation to seek holiness in their lives because they are stewards of the mysteries of God (Can 276 and 1).
“In line with that above canonical stipulations, I directed you, having listened to the first case, to desist from every business transaction with Mrs. Nnenna Ezenwa. I also directed you to sell off the business centre ( Havila Gold Inter-Business Impress Nigeria Ltd. Umunze and reinvest your time in pastoral assignment given to you by the Diocese.
“The second problem boarders on further business transaction, with Mrs. Nnenna which she reported to me. I used the opportunity to reinstate my stand. For this reason, the family of Mrs. Nnenna, wanted out of court settlement and a meeting was held in my office. The interaction with you and the family of the alleged business partner at my office revealed that: a. The business centre which I directed you to sell, was handed over to the same woman and you have series of court cases with Mrs. Nnenna Ezenwa.
“Your primary pastoral assignment has suffered neglect owing to your busy schedules occasioned by your involvement in business and Court cases.
“My son, having given you series of warning and corrections in accordance with the law (Can. 1339 & 4) and in view of the facts stated above, I wish by this decree (Can.1319) to direct you once more to act in accordance with the universal law stated above, which forbids clerics from every form of business transactions, except with the permission of the diocesan Bishop:
“With this penal precept, I direct that if you do not obey this lawful command and continue with disobedience, you will be punished accordingly with explatory penalties, which could include an order, deprivations and prohibitions (Can. 1336 & 1, & 2-5.of also Can.1371).
“You have six months from the date of execution of this decree to disengage from all businesses, settle with Mrs Nnenna Ezenwa, sufficiently repair the scandal and reintegrate yourself fully in the pastoral assignment given to you by the Diocese.
“At this time I wish to unequivocally state that your business endeavour is clearly a personal adventure. It has never been done with the consent or permission of the Diocese. So, the Catholic Diocese of Awka disassociates herself wholly and entirely from all your business transactions. May the good Lord give you the grace to take the right steps and find joy in your vocation. Invoking my paternal bleeding on you, I commend you to the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary.”
However, when both parties to the case returned to the Federal High Court Awka on 25th to report back to Hon Justice Dimgba, on the outcome of his directive for settlement of the matter out of court, the prosecutor P. A Ogele, told the court that the settlement collapse because all effort by him and family of Mrs Nnenna Ezenwa to reach the priest for settlement failed.
When the Judge asked Rev. Fr. Nwankwo’s lawyer, Mr. Kingsley Idenyi, in the presence of the priest why out of court settlement could not hold, he told the court that they want to proceed with the case in court. The judge therefore, adjourned the case to 24th, 25th and 26th January 2023 for continued hearing.
