A serious disruption unfolded on Sunday morning at St. Benedict Catholic Parish, Ngwa Ukwu, in the Aba Diocese, as Rev. Fr. Francis Anyanwu, a suspended Catholic priest, defied ecclesiastical authority and forcibly took over the 9:00 AM Mass, shocking the parish community and prompting a massive walkout by parishioners.

 

Fr. Anyanwu, who hails from Amapu Ngwa and is a native of the parish, was suspended in July 2025 by the Bishop of Aba Diocese for alleged use of social media to make multiple accusations against the Catholic Bishop of Aba, several priests, and a bishop in Spain—a move considered deeply against Canon Law and Church discipline.

 

According to eyewitnesses, the parish’s assigned Mass celebrant, Rev. Fr. Benard Iloka, was preparing for the liturgy in the sacristy when Fr. Anyanwu stormed in and declared himself the chief celebrant of the Mass.

 

When Fr. Benard calmly reminded him of his suspension, Fr. Anyanwu reportedly shouted:

“To hell with the Bishop. This is my home parish!”

To avoid an outright public altercation at the altar, Fr. Benard chose to withdraw quietly, and Fr. Anyanwu proceeded to lead the Mass procession with the servers.

However, the drama took a deeper turn when the congregation, visibly stunned and dismayed, stood up en masse and walked out of the church shortly after realising who was presiding over the Mass.

 

Among the most affected were the Zonal Block Rosary Crusade members, who were scheduled to hold their Thanksgiving Mass that morning to conclude a three-day spiritual retreat and camping event at the parish.

 

“We were ready for our final Mass and thanksgiving,” said one of the youth leaders. “But when we saw Fr. Anyanwu at the altar, it was a spiritual and moral shock. We couldn’t proceed. We had to walk away.”

In a swift reaction following the incident, the Amapu Ngwa Youth Association, representing Fr. Anyanwu’s own village, condemned the priest’s actions and declared a temporary shutdown of Masses at the parish until the issue is resolved.

 

In a public statement made while marching around the village and the church premises, the youth leaders said:

 

“Since the people walked away from the altar in rejection, no Mass will be allowed in the parish until further notice. We cannot allow the church to be turned into a battlefield.”

As of press time, the Diocese of Aba has not issued an official response. However, Church insiders say Fr. Anyanwu’s actions violate multiple provisions of the Code of Canon Law, particularly Canons 1371 and 1373, which deal with defiance of ecclesiastical authority and acts causing public scandal.

 

His decision to publicly celebrate Mass while under suspension could lead to further canonical penalties, including the possibility of laicization (removal from the clerical state), pending investigation and review by ecclesiastical authorities.

Fr. Francis Anyanwu’s initial suspension in July followed months of controversy involving his online accusations against senior clergy, including claims of corruption and abuse. The Church deemed his actions reckless and defamatory, resulting in his suspension from pastoral duties pending internal review.

 

This latest incident, however, marks the first time the embattled priest has publicly violated the terms of his suspension, further escalating tensions within the diocese.