By Pascal Ibe
Two online newspapers have published a report of Enugu Catholic Priest getting married later this October 2024.
The story was published by Ibom Focus, EverydayNews and was shared on many WhatsApp groups on Monday.
In the report by Ibom Focus, the blog claimed one Fr Michael Ogochukwu Ezeh from Enugu state And Reverend Sister Claire Chioma O. from Afikpo North local government area of Ebonyi State who have found love in themselves and have subsequently made marital preparations to Walk down the aisle on the 26th October 2024 at the ST PHILLIP CATHOLIC CHURCH portharcourt “.
When FACTWATCH tried to reopen this same report on the EverydayNews website, it was discovered that the story had been pulled down
See the link to the report by EverydayNews before being taken down Here.
We later found this report by EverydayNews on Phoenix
FACTWATCH also saw this claim on Thread. The user @ebonyinaija_media shared this same image and wrote, “This is Reverend Father Michael Ogochukwu ezeh from Enugu state And Reverend Sister Claire Chioma O. from Afikpo North local government area of Ebonyi State who have found love in themselves and have subsequently made marital preparations to Walk down the aisle on the 26th October 2024 at the ST PHILLIP CATHOLIC CHURCH portharcourt “.
Congratulations father Michael
In May, this Fact Checker countered a similar claim that a Catholic priest named Fr Jude Obasi, who is from Afikpo in Ebonyi State, wedded his long-time lover on May 25, 2024.
After thorough findings, it was discovered that the incident happened last October 2023 in Kenya.
Verifying This Claim
First, FACTWATCH came across a report published by the Catholic Network. The report debunked this claim, but for the reason it is not an authoritative source, FACTWATCH cannot use it as primary evidence.
This Fact Checker saw the name, SAMUEL EYO on the report and subjected to a Google keyword search. Results from this search led this Fact Checker to a Facebook profile, Samuel Eyo.
Samuel Eyo’s Facebook profile showed that he’s from Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria’s South-South. The profile also confirmed he’s a member of Cross Star (BCS) Church.
This Fact Checker traced and found the exact wedding photos said be a Catholic priest from Enugu State.
Samuel Eyo made the Facebook posts on the 13th and 18th of August, 2023.
When FACTWATCH contacted the Director of Communication at Enugu Catholic Diocese, Rev. Fr. Anthony Aneke debunked the claim
Fr Aneke told this Fact Checker on Monday that the alleged Fr Eze Micheal is not even a priest of any Catholic Diocese in Nigeria.
Verdict
This claim is MISLEADING
Conclusion
Online blogs are recirculating this photo to misinform the public. Thorough checks indicated that this image is from the wedding of a clergyman in Akwa Ibom in 2023
