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By Iheanachor Isaac, Abakiliki
The Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki has accused the Ebonyi State government over an alleged order which is prolonging the release of one of its priest, Rev. Fr. Timothy Ngwuta.
But state government Tuesday denied that it didn’t placed any Executive Order.
But this came barely 24 hours when the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki in a statement claimed that State government has hand in the detention of Rev. Fr. Ngwuta.
The statement which was signed by the Chancellor, Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, Fr. Matthew Opoke and was made available to journalists in Abakiliki.
The statement claimed that the church has made frantic efforts to gain the release of the priest but all to no avail.
The statement read in part: “efforts to secure his release on Bail have been hampered by the executive order preventing any Court in the State from entertaining matters relating to Effium crisis. The motion for bail was refused on the 12th of April.
“The Church in the name of God, appeals to all the people of Effium and Ezaa Effium involved in this inter-communal war, to lay down their arms and embrace the path of peace.
“Nothing justifies the senseless killing and maiming of innocent lives. Peace can never be achieved under the barrel of guns.
“Since the matter is before the courts, we will not be making any more statement on the case. We urge all to withhold judgement and let the case run its course.
“We implore all people of good will to join us in praying God to touch those responsible for the incarceration of Fr. Timothy to listen to the voice of right conscience,” the state read.
Fr. Ngwuta was arrested by police and arraigned in court on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 by the police and, on 11th of March, 2022 was arraigned in court for kidnapping and murder of five Engineers.
The priest was allegedly linked to the killing of five slained engineers who were staff of a company engaged in the on ongoing ring road project in the state.
The deceased were on their way to site when they were kidnapped and murdered by suspected warrior group in the area.
But, the state government through it’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Cletus Ofoke, dismissed the Church’s claims.
“There is nothing like Executive Order on the Effium crisis, there is nothing to that effect. Of course, government can never issue order stopping court from doing its legitimate duty. It is aimed at tarnishing somebody’s image and maligning the government. There is nothing like that”,he explained.
The imprisoned priest, was said to had gone into the area with obtained clearance from the police to recover a vehicle whose tyres were deflated.
