The Catholic Diocese of Awka the Anambra State capitalhas began a thorough investigation into an alleged altercation involving one of its priests, Rev. Fr. Jude Muokwe, and a 50-year-old widow, Mrs. Ikeorah Maureen.
FCNN gathered that the incident, which happened on Wednesday, left the woman in trauma and in severe pain, leading to mixed reactions across the state.
Sources disclosed that the altercation began when Muokwe, who is the Manager of Angel Primary School, a mission school domiciled in Ifitedunu, Dunukofia LGA, entered a classroom where Ikeorah and other school staff were holding a meeting to discuss a salary increment request to be present to the school management.
According to the source : “The widow and some other staff members of the school were having a meeting in one of the classrooms in the school discussing their interest in salary increment, which they intended to relate to the school management thereafter,”
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“But the priest barged into the classroom with a cane and started beating her mercilessly, accusing her of being the convener of the meeting, and it resulted in a kind of brawl between both parties.”
Another source from the disclosed that Ikeorah slapped the priest first, prompting him to retaliate, which triggered a physical confrontation between the woman and the priest.
A viral video making the rounds on social media, shows the woman crying while recounting her ordeal and showing the injuries she sustained.
The Catholic Diocese of Akwa swiftly issued a press statement on Monday, expressing their regret over the incident and assuring the public that an investigation would be conducted.
“The Diocese regrets this unfortunate incident, which took place on Wednesday, February 12, 2025,” the statement read. “The Catholic Diocese of Awka upholds integrity of character and respect for all and cannot condone any type of misconduct in any of our schools.”
The statement, signed by the Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Charles Ndubisi, further assured that disciplinary actions would follow based on the findings of the investigation.
“We promise to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and the extent of violation of the ethical standard established by the Diocese for all Diocesan Schools, and apply immediate disciplinary actions,” the statement reads.
