₦airaland Forum

Anglican priest derobed
Saturday, 03 July 2010 00:00 Nigerian Compass


An Anglican Priest, Rev Onyeka Mbachu, attached to Amichi Diocese, Nnewi South Local Government Area, Anambra State, has been derobed by the Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Rev Ephraim Ikeakor for allegedly being involved in homosexual practices.


According to the Bishop, the action is contrary to the norms of the Anglican Church and Christian Faith,  and the derobing which was announced  on the last day of the Diocesan Synod held at Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, Amichi, would serve as a deterrent to would-be future offenders.

To the faithfuls who were gathered during a full Sunday service when the announcement was made, the Diocese’s action did not come as a surprise as they had pre-knowledge of the dastardly act.
Bishop Ikeakor said further that his action became necessary in view of the speculation in some quarters that he was protecting and supporting the priest.


He pointed out that from Sunday June 13, 2010; the said priest ceased to be an Anglican priest.
The Bishop had earlier refused to disclose the offence describing it was an in-house matter which he didn’t want to make public.  However, he admitted that the priest did not conform to what was expected of him as an Anglican Priest.


Nigerian Compass’ investigation revealed that he committed the offence at Ebenezer Church, Unubi, where he was serving. The investigation also showed that the priest had been in this unholy act until the matter came to light in December last year.  Subsequently,  the Bishop first suspended Mbachu but  later recalled him. This did not in anyway deter the priest from continuing in his shameful act.


The continuation forced many of the faithfuls to petition the Bishop demanding that he be sanctioned, and sequel to delay in carrying out action against the priest, they had no other option except to believe that the Bishop was protecting him.


Buttressing their point, they cited a case of a deacon of the Diocese allegedly dismissed by the Bishop for impregnating and aborting the pregnancy of a teenager.


The derobed priest was ordained two years ago by the Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. G.I.N Okpala.  He joined the priesthood of the Diocese when it was created last year.


Married with a child, the priest has also served at Abubor, Nnewi prior to being transferred to Amichi.

By Cyprian Ebele, Nnewi

http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62396:anglican-priest-derobed&catid=672:top-stories&Itemid=794

129 LASU medical students fail to graduate

Written by Kunle Awosiyan, Lagos
Thursday, June 24, 2010

No fewer than 129 students of Lagos State University College of Medicine could not graduate with their mates for the 2009/2010 academic session.



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This was revealed at the induction ceremony for the sixth graduating set of doctors, on Wednesday.

According to the overall best student, Dr. Balogun Adeniyi, the college registered 159 students for medical programme but only 25 of them completed the course successfully, while 129 failed to do so.

Adeniyi, who described the programme as six years of academic imprisonment, advised his mates who could not graduate this year not to be discouraged but put in more efforts to excel in the following year.

However, the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has described the low number of medical graduates as academic accident in the institution.

He attributed the low number of graduates to serious adherence of the college to high standard of academic performance, adding that only students who scored high grades during their 200 levels were allowed to proceed for medical programme.

http://odili.net/news/source/2010/jun/24/603.html
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[b]The depth to which education has sunk in Nigeria is epitomised by this news which shows that only 25 out of 159 students successfully completed their medical degree at LASU. Those who have studied in the UK, USA and Canada would testify to the fact that at the end of each course or module, students are invited to anonymously assess their professors in the same manner that the students themselves would be assessed. In the developed world, e.g. UK, USA and Canada, if this number of students fails to qualify, such an outcome would never be considered a symptom of “high standard of academic performance” as Governor Fashola reportedly claims. Instead, it would be regarded as a woeful failure on the part of the academic department which itself may be axed if such a trend is not reversed. Whilst I am certainly not advocating that academically weak students who failed their examinations should be allowed to graduate, it seems absurd that 129 out of 159 students enrolled on a programme failed. This failure in my opinion is a reflection of the failure of their professors, the medical school, and the decay of Nigerian universities and the education system.[/b]

Moralistli:
@ Poster;
U 're no doubt a flirt, but, if not then i have a jewel of inestimable kinda package for you.
Were you asked to indicate your previous LOCATION? Bobo, why? even when it was clearly state that only present location should be indicated,  see, d reason is not best known to u;i know!  oje,

Anyway, i have two childhood female friends that just completed their various educational  programs in canada, have been in lagos since last year and  as a matter fact searching for your like to settle down with. Mind you, i said your like bcoz of the break down you gave abt urself.

Who knows, i might be rewarded at the end.

Kindly drop your number if you really mean biz.

I GUESS Moralistli IS A love-vendor!

@ Poster; GOODLUCK WITH YOUR SEARCH.

well done obama!

deluded

THOSE PASTORS USE BODY GUARDS BECAUSE THE LORD IS NOT THEIR SHEPHERD.

^^you mean criminals in uniform?

Benjamin Omosebi Charged With Solicitation

CINCINNATI -- A former bishop in the Anglican Church of Nigeria was arrested in a prostitution bust Tuesday in Over-the-Rhine.

Benjamin Omosebi, 60, is charged with solicitation. Police said Omosebi offered $15 to have sex with Mickey McConnal, who was also arrested in the sting.

https://www.wlwt.com/2009/1001/21170737_237X240.jpg

The Communications Director for the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Ohio, Richelle Thompson, said Omosebi is a visiting clergy with limited privileges in the church. She said he would only fill in for ministers when they were sick or on vacation, but could not say when the last time he officiated was. Thompson said Omosebi will not officiate in the church while his case goes through the legal system. "We take any allegation like this very seriously," she said. Thompson said the church was providing pastoral support to Omosebi's family, including his wife.
A representative of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, CANA, said Omosebi left the church in 1998 for unknown reasons. Omosebi was one of 14 people arrested in the prostitution sting. He was next scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 16.

http://www.wlwt.com/news/21171084/detail.html

WHAT IS THIS WORLD TURNING INTO?

Chelmsford Priest Charged In Craigslist Sex Sting
NASHUA, N.H. (WBZ) ― A priest serving at a Chelmsford church is accused of soliciting sex from a woman at a Nashua, New Hampshire hotel.

https://i.huffpost.com/gen/157330/thumbs/s-WILLIAM-VENTURA-large.jpg
WHAT A HANDSOME YOUND MAN. IF 'AM A LADY OR GAY, I'LL FALL FOR HIM, BUT AM NOT, WHY USE A love-peddler?

Rev. William Ventura, 31, of Nashua, New Hampshire was one of eight men arrested during a prostitution sting on April 9. "We are trying to keep prostitution down, and everything that comes with it," says Nashua Police Captain Scott Brown.

Ventura and the other men involved had allegedly responded to an ad posted on Craigslist and were planning to pay a woman for sex.

The Nashua police sting was aimed at Internet prostitution. They used a police officer who posed as a female love-peddler.

Ventura, who is charged with one count of prostitution, has voluntarily taken a leave of absence while his case is under investigation.

He had been serving at St. John the Evangelist parish as a parochial vicar. One parish member told WBZ, "If that's what he wants, fine, but he needs to leave the church."

All eight men were released on bail. Ventura is due back in court on April 22.

Ventura graduated from St. John's Seminary in 2002, and told WBZ then, "The challenges of the priesthood haven't really changed; I still need to go and help people."

Ventura was ordained in 2006. Before serving at St. John's, Ventura worked at St. Joseph's Parish in Needham as a deacon.


WBZ's Bill Shields contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

http://wbztv.com/local/newhampshire/chelmsford.priest.arrest.2.1630010.html

Police Rifle Found At Akure Robbery Scene becuase women, men and officers of the Nigeria Police are largely behind robbery attacks across Nigeria.

let the IDIOt shut up his mouth and ass.

the texture of the music is so poor, I hate it.

Living Abroad: My childhood friend, my lifeline

Written by Kayode Ogundamisi
Wednesday, June 16, 2010

I was born in the United Kingdom but it never really mattered to me as my parents left the United Kingdom for my dad's country of birth, Nigeria in the early seventies. My mum was originally from the Caribbean. You see, back then, it was not uncommon for Nigerians to return home after studying in the United Kingdom. My dad was no exception. I do not recollect my childhood days in London. I was brought home to Nigeria at the age of two. All that fills my memory is the exotic city of Lagos and our first home in Surulere. The Surulere of my young years was a residential area  boisterous, exotic, and beautiful.

My dad was a medical practitioner at the University of Lagos Teaching hospital. I loved our three bedroom home, provided my dad's employers. I loved to see my dad's friends come in and go, and my mother loved to cook. Most of my parents' friends were those who studied with them in the United Kingdom.

I heard them speak about Hyde Park, Finsbury Park, Peckham, Liverpool street market and all. Those places sounded like fairy land to me. All I knew was my homeland, Surulere, Lagos, Aunty Ayo Girls' High School, my trip to King's College, the glitter of the smartly dressed King's College boys and then returning home to compare the boy that caught my attention to the Raphael Cameron poster stapled on my bedroom door. (For those who don't know him, he was a dashing American singer whose baggy trousers and neatly cut afro hair was the standard I chose for any potential boyfriend of my dream).

We lived a good life - Nigeria was good, and Surulere was still a residential enclave, not the commercial spot as it is now. I did not have any British memories until one day when my mum told me about my childhood friend visiting from the United Kingdom. "My Childhood friend" , I repeated incredulously. "Yes" , mum replied. "You were born on the same day at the Withington hospital in North London. Her parents chose to remain in England as they took advantage of Margaret Thatcher's offer to council flat occupiers and bought a council flat."

On the day I set eyes on my childhood friend, she spoke English with a weird sounding accent - it sounded like she was speaking through her nose; I only heard that kind of English on the TV drama on NTA channel l0 called Love Thy Neighbours. I was shy, too embarrassed to speak English with her ­and to think I was told I spoke very good English in school. My mum had to pull me aside and told me never to feel timid. "You are as British as she is and you have the right to live in or visit the United Kingdom if you so wish," she stated.

It never mattered to me. I loved Nigeria to bits. The uncertainties in Nigeria made life more interesting.  I saw myself as a Nigerian child.

Many years later, I lost my dad in a tragic motor accident - well, so the local police say, but his colleagues believed he was murdered. It did not matter. He was a loving dad who did his best for me. I was his only child, and his death changed it all. Suddenly, we were alone. My mum was put under pressure by his family. The expectation was that an English trained medical practitioner would have a lot of money. My dad had none, and they wouldn't believe us. Things turned from bad to worse.

We became homeless with my mum resorting to having to put up with friends. She started a small restaurant by the roadside. The profit was just good enough for us to feed. Then God sent an angel­my father's younger sister. I call her Aunty Queen. We moved into her place and she took care of our needs. She also had a child who was the same age as me. We were very close.

Aunty Queen did a lot of travelling. She called my mum one day and said she would have my cousin bear my name. That was the strength of love, she continued - we did wear the same clothing and were inseparable. My aunty had also made sure we attended the same school. I remember she had a distinguishing birthmark on her upper lip we called "God's mark". I used to use my aunt's eyebrow pencil to try and make a replica of the mark on my face because I so much wanted to look like her. Everyone thought it was sweet and made fun of me.

At the time we were ready to go to university, I lost my mum. To make matters worse, my aunty announced that my cousin would be traveling to Ghana to meet her long lost dad. I cried my eyes out and my world seemed to have come to an end.

I weathered on - went on to study sociology at the University of Lagos, got myself the most loving husband any woman could ever dream of and made sure I took care of my beloved aunty. Each time I asked to get in touch with my cousin, my aunty would tell me they had lost touch, but because I missed her so much, I was relentless. As I became more persistent, she broke the bad news - my cousin had died in Ghana. Everybody I loved seemed to die.

My life's journey soon after was similar to a roller coaster ride and Nigeria became really difficult. My husband lost his job, and my job as a teacher in a private school could not meet our needs.

One day I received an e-mail from the same childhood friend who visited us years back. She suggested I relocate to the United Kingdom. I requested a letter of invitation and she told me I did not need one, ", as you were born in the UK, you are entitled to a British Passport", she reminded me. It had not crossed my mind! I, therefore, got all my documents together, and went straight to the British High Commission. To my dismay, my application was rejected because they did not believe I was who I said I was.

I decided to give it a second try. I applied for a visitor's visa, travelled to the UK and while in the United Kingdom, applied again for a British passport.

I was called in for an interview at the Home Office in Croydon. Three officials came in and having gone through all my documents - my birth certificate, mother's passport, baby's photographs and every other document I could lay my hand on, gave me the shocking news "You applied for a British passport some years back,  but we think we know what has happened", as they gave each other meaningful looks. They had brought in with them a photocopy of the said British passport and asked simultaneously"Do you know this person?" I was too shocked to open my mouth at first. I subsequently let out a scream, and shivering and sobbing, pointed at the photograph and said "Yes, that looks like my cousin". On closer inspection, I became convinced it was, indeed, my cousin - I could not miss "God's mark" on her upper lip.

You guessed right - the same cousin that was meant to have gone to meet her missing dad in Ghana. The same one my aunty told me was dead. She had used my documents, stolen my identity and established herself in Britain. To further compound matters, she had bought houses, racked up a whole lot of debt and gone to jail for drug offences, all in my name. All the authorities in the United Kingdom could do was to "revoke her passport"; the process of reclaiming my name was mine. It would cost thousands of pounds, but above all, it broke my heart - my angel aunty was later discovered to be the devil behind the whole plot. All the while she took us in; it was for the sole purpose of stealing my identity and all for nothing because after all, the Britain I have come to meet is not any better than the Nigeria I left behind.

As if there weren't enough complications already, I found out that my cousin was married to a Nigerian man, who had been granted permission to stay in the United Kingdom as a spouse of a British Citizen and now also naturalised. They have a child almost the same age as mine and now thanks to my "angel" aunty and my "beloved" cousin, I have to live with the guilt of disrupting the lives of her husband and child. The trauma is so much it is affecting my relationship with my husband and child, and my ability to trust again.

My childhood friend has been my lifeline. She surrounds herself and me by default with positive people. My story is being told, so you can tell others, and also have others tell other people.

I have forgiven my cousin. Indeed, I was involved in her resettlement process and she is now also formally settled in the United Kingdom. I firmly believe there are others like me, who may still be back at home in Nigeria and may have been turned down by the British High Commission, deprived of their rights. It may just be that the root of the problem lies close to home.

Author's note:

The story you have just read is based on a true story. I met the protagonist late 2008, in the course of my service as a member of the Independent Monitoring Board in the United Kingdom. I have protected the name of the characters as requested of the main protagonist.