Controversial Catholic priest and the Spiritual Director of the Adoration
Ministry, Enugu (AMEN), Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka on Monday spoke on the
alleged assassination attempt on him, saying it was not fabricated.
Mbaka insisted that agents of darkness were after him going by the
reactions that trailed the assassination attempt.
The Enugu State Police Command through its spokesman, Superintendent Ebere
Amaraizu, however, denied knowledge of the development.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Ike Maximus Ugwuoke, Mbaka also
absolved the Catholic Church of having a hand in the assassination
attempt.
He said he never at any time blamed the attack on the Church.
The statement reads: “The report in a section of the media that Rev Fr
Ejike Mbaka of Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria ‘fingers the Church on his
alleged assassination’ is a false and a sensational headline curled by
mischief makers for whatever ends and it is hereby refuted.
“First, the assassination plot against Fr Mbaka was not a mere
‘allegation” or claim as reported in the media but an established fact.
The impact of the bullet on his car which the security agents have
confirmed is there for all who cared to see. It is also ridiculous that
two fictitious characters masquerading as concerned Catholics could go
wild to insinuate in the media that Fr Mbaka planned his own assassination
to curry public sympathy and presidential favour.
“Such statement depicts how far mischief makers can go in trivializing
issues as important as human life and their absolute lack of fear of God.
The statement calls to question the level of concern of such
“Concerned Catholics” in such a matter involving the life of a catholic
priest. We call on security agencies to investigate the source of such
media report as the makers of the report or their pay masters may have
some useful information to give them in their investigation into the
incident.
“We challenge the two impostors claiming to be writing for the “Concerned
Catholics” to come forward with their real identity, parish addresses and
contacts to prove the point that they exist and that they are Catholics.
“We state categorically that in all efforts made to inquire from Fr Mbaka
the person or persons behind the gun attack at him, he never at any time
named anyone or pointed accusing finger at anyone as the sponsor of his
assassination plot, be it the Catholic Church or Whomever.
“It is wrong and out of context to ascribe to Fr Mbaka any deductions made
by any person or group of persons, or associations or followers of Fr
Mbaka on the issue whether verbally or in prints. Such persons or group of
persons may be freely expressing their sentiments on the issue but they
are not speaking for Fr Mbaka and should not be taken or quoted as
speaking for Fr Mbaka.
“Fr Mbaka’s love for the Catholic Church is unquestionable and to allege
that he is “unleashing his ministry against the Catholic Church in an
attempt to blackmail, or stampede the church into doing his bidding” only
portrays the clear mischievous intention of the originators of the
statement to incite the Catholic Church against Fr Mbaka.
“Such statement can only come from agents of darkness and liars from the
pit of hell and should be considered as such.”
The police said it has not received any report to that effect.