The hammer finally fell on the controversial priest, Ejike Mbala Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministries Enugu Nigeria (AMEN) as the Catholic Archdiocese in Enugu effected his redeployment.
They were said to have threatened the bishop, who received a similar attack when he initially, suspended the ministry indefinitely on June 18, 2022, saying some of the preachings of Mbaka were not consistent with the doctrine of the Catholic Church, this time with bodily harm.
During Mbaka’s earlier suspension, Onaga, had said: “In the light of the happenings in the Catholic Adoration Ministry Chaplaincy Enugu: capable of undermining the Catholic faith and teachings; and after several fraternal corrections and admonitions to Fr. Camillus Ejike Mbaka, the Chaplain of the Ministry.
“And after having given him pastoral directives and guidelines for the Ministry Chaplaincy, which he persistently violated; and in fulfilment of my pastoral duties as the Chief Shepherd with the obligation to promote and safeguard the Catholic faith and morals in Enugu Diocese, I hereby prohibit all Catholics (clergy, religious and lay faithful) henceforth from attending all religious and liturgical activities of the Adoration Ministry until the due canonical process initiated by the Diocese is concluded.
“My decision is based on the fact that some of the teachings and utterances of Fr Camillus Ejike Mbaka at the Catholic Adoration Ministry are not consistent with the teachings and faith of the Catholic Church. I enjoin all the Christian Faithful to keep praying for Fr. Mbaka and the Catholic Diocese of Enugu as I entrust him and the Diocese to the maternal care and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles,” the Bishop had said in a letter.
Bu, an indication that the suspension of the Ministry had been lifted, came when Mbaka, himself, announced the resumption of Adoration on Thursday, through the ministry’s Facebook page, where he asked his followers to converge on at the usual ground at Umuchigbo Iji Nike Emene Enugu State on Sunday, stating that the ministry would start with a 10am Mass.
“Dear Adorers, To the glory of God, Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria Amen, starts on Sunday 2nd October, 2022 with 10am Mass at the Adoration ground Umuchigbo Iji Nike Emene Enugu State. God bless you miraculously as you come to worship God with us,” the post read.
It was there he announced the change of guard, telling the faithful, who had thronged the arena that a replacement was already made in the person of Amadi, a development, which was immediately received with a thunderous disapproval, as the congregation continued to shout no at each point.