The Rector of Methodist Theological Institute, MTI, Umuahia, Very Rev. Uchenna Ugorie has alleged that his family now lives inside a classroom at Umuchime Ossah Umuahia, following his abrupt removal as the Rector of MTI and his subsequent ejection from the school quarters.
Rev Ugorie, who spoke to journalists in Umuahia weekend, fingered the Chairman of Governing Council of MTI, Rt. Rev Sunday Eze and some persons within the Methodist Church Nigeria where he serves, for terminating his job as Rector, replacing him with another priest even when he is still in the 4th year of his 5-year tenure.
In a letter he wrote to the Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Rev. Oliver Ali-Abba, through the Secretary of Conference, Rt. Rev. Babatunde Abiodun Taiwo, Rev. Ugorie said he received a letter from the Conference dated June 20, 2024, where he was ordered to proceed on compulsory leave as the Rector of MTI.
According to him, there was no official complaint brought by the Church prior to his sudden removal but on July 22, 2024, he was informed through WhatsApp that a Panel had been set up by the Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria to investigate his activities in MTI.
He added that he was transferred to three different churches in Akwa Ibom after his removal, as a punitive measure against him.
Rev Ugorie who said he was never indicted by the said Panel, expressed surprise that a social media report claimed that he was found guilty of managerial and financial incompetence, even when the outcome of the Panel’s findings had not been made public to date.
The priest lamented that he was also accused of admitting an epileptic student into the Institute.
Writing through his Lawyer, Obike Onyemere, Rev Ugorie demanded that he be reinstated as Rector and allowed to complete his five-year tenure even as he demanded a categorical statement to be issued by the Church disowning the published report that accused him of financial impropriety.
“As at the time our client was unjustly and wickedly thrown out of his official quarters and job, resulting in much suffering to him and his family members, there was zero evidence of any finding of fault against our said client and there was equally no official complaint from any quarters made against him”, the Lawyer, Obike Onyemere said.
“I was not insubordinate to the Church authorities. I am innocent. My family now sleeps in a classroom after I was thrown out of our quarters and the church doesn’t even care,” the priest sobbed.
But when contacted for his reaction, the Chairman of the Governing Council of MTI, Rt Rev Sunday Eze said he was not qualified to speak on the matter.
He referred the reporter to the Secretary of the Conference, Rt Rev Babatunde Abiodun Taiwo.
However, several phone calls and messages put across to the Secretary of the Conference for some days on the matter were not picked even as of the time of this report.
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