A PRIEST IN ANAMBRA STATE WEDDED A COUPLE YESTERDAY, DESPITE DISPUTES WITH THE BRIDE’S FATHER. (PHOTOS).
9th January, 2026
The Catholic Diocese of Gboko has suspended a priest, Rev. Fr. David Golodzo, from the exercise of sacred ministry over alleged prolonged and unauthorised absence from duty.
The suspension was contained in a letter dated Sept. 4, 2025, issued by the Bishop of Gboko, Most Rev. William Avenya, and made available to Benue Info-pedia in Gboko.
According to the letter, Rev. Fr. Golodzo was assigned to St. Edward Parish, Uga, as an Associate Priest but allegedly absented himself from his place of assignment for long periods without the permission of his appropriate ecclesiastical authority.
The Bishop, citing provisions of the Code of Canon Law, said clerics were bound by obedience and required to reside in their place of assignment unless lawfully permitted otherwise.
He added that several efforts by the Diocese to get the priest to return to his duty post were unsuccessful.
The letter stated that prolonged absence from duty constituted a grave violation under Canon Law and attracted canonical sanctions.
Consequently, the Diocese imposed a suspension on the priest, barring him from the public celebration of Holy Mass, administration of sacraments and participation in public acts of worship.
However, it noted that the suspended priest was permitted to celebrate Holy Mass privately and to attend to the spiritual needs of the faithful only in situations of danger of death, in line with Church law.
The suspension, according to the letter, takes immediate effect from the moment it was communicated and will remain in force until the priest ceases from what the Diocese described as contumacy.
The letter was signed by Bishop Avenya and co-signed by the Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Marcellinus Wende. A copy was also forwarded to the Secretary-General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official response from Rev. Fr. Golodzo.
One more photo below.
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