The Catholic Diocese of Enugu has suspended Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka from church activities for one month.
Father Mbaka was asked to proceed on suspension with effect from May 3 after being summoned by Callistus Valentine Onaga, the diocesan bishop.
The priest’s political escapades continue to overshadow his theological obligations on a scale that nurtures unending concerns amongst his senior clerics.
The suspension could have far-reaching consequences for the conventional but unofficial church and state relationship.
A spokesman for the SSS denied taking Mr Mbaka into custody or coming in any contacts with him.
Mr Mbaka was an ardent supporter of Mr Buhari’s campaign in 2015.
Church sources said Mr Mbaka’s latest suspension was being viewed as significant for its undertone.
Church officials admitted Father Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry has been a cash cow for the Enugu Diocese. But they said it is not the first time the fiery priest would face administrative action.
I was detained because of Nnamdi Kanu – Fr Mbaka
But Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka has disclosed that his 24 hours ‘disappearance’ was an incarceration by the Enugu Catholic Bishop, Most Rev Callistus Onaga, whom he accused of conniving with others to detain him because he spoke favourably about the leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Mbaka said he was only released because the adoration faithful protested his unexplained disappeance.
Mbaka who spoke late on Wednesday at his adoration ground after regaining freedom, practically accused the authorities of the Enugu Catholic Diocese of Mastermind.
He said he was kept incommunicado by the Bishop, whom he further alleged planned to keep him for 30 days.
He said a lot of issues were presented against him after which the Church leadership, led by Bishop Calistus Onaga told him that he would remain indoors for one month, a period that would allow him pray and meditate over his activities.
Mbaka said he requested to be allowed the opportunity to come and address his parishioners after which he would shut down, “but they said no. I also begged them to allow me send another priest to come and celebrate mass for you today, they said no,” he told the parishioners.
He said Bishop Onaga upon seeing the protest over his predicament allowed him to go.
Mbaka said the church was strong against him for blessing Nnamdi Kanu.
“Are you the owner of my mouth? You can’t tell me who to bless? If you are not happy that I blessed someone, you have your own mouth, you can curse the person.
“They didn’t treat me in a pastoral way and I was asking am I being punished for what?
“They said it was a meeting, but even before I reached the Bishop’s house, conclusion has already been made. What happened to me was like the day I was shot on the road.
“Unfortunately for them, even before the meeting, a woman was already going around bragging that the Bishop will call me for a meeting, and that I was going to leave my house here for 30 days, and that after the 30 days, I would be sent to Rome, and Adoration ministry will be closed.
“In a time and cases like this, don’t give me a punishment that will cause troubles for us because I’m not alone.”
Mbaka said that another thing presented to him was his recent criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Government.
“I cannot hate my brother because of some people who hatred is in their genes,” Mbaka said.