Mbaka’s Followers Protest, Activist Describes Ban Illegal

Followers of the Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka, on Sunday protested against the ban imposed on the ministry by Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rev Callistus Onaga.

Onaga had, on Saturday, enjoined all Catholics to stop visiting the ministry until further notice.

He explained that the decision was based on the fact that some of Mbaka’s teachings and utterances are not consistent with the teachings and faith of the Catholic Church.

Barely 24 hours after the bishop’s pronouncement, Mbaka’s followers gathered on Sunday morning at the Adoration Ground and protested against Onaga.

The angry protesters also attacked journalists and anyone who dared to take pictures of the protest.

It was observed that a BBC Igbo journalist, who was covering the protest live, was forcefully stopped by members of the ministry.

Meanwhile, a human right organisation, Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network, has described the suspension order of the bishop as illegal, describing it as “a grave attack on the constitutional right of freedom of religion, worship and association.”

The group, in a statement issued on Sunday by its President, Olu Omotayo, called on Enugu Catholic Diocese to retrace its steps from what it described as its dangerous incursion into politics and allow people to freely choose where they like to worship.

The statement was titled, “Closure of Adoration Worship Centre is a grave attack on the constitutional right of freedom of religion, worship and association of millions of Nigerians worshipping thereat.”