The suspended Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe of the Catholic Church of Warri Diocese, actually dumped his celibacy vows and renounced his priestly calling to marry his heartthrob in Dallas, United States of America, PUNCH Metro gathered on Sunday evening.

The priest tied the matrimonial knot with his wife, Dora Chichah, at the Stream of Joy Church in Dallas, USA on December 29, 2024, without waiting to be released from his canonical obligations and responsibility by the universal Church.

Consequently, the church Diocesan authorities suspended him from priestly duties noting that “by this action, Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe has incurred a Latae Sententiae suspension in accordance with the provisions of Canon 1394 S1.”

The suspension, which was contained in a statement titled, ‘Decree of Suspension’, dated, Thursday, January 16, 2025, jointly signed by the Bishop of Warri, Rt. Rev. Anthony Ovayero Ewherido and the Chancellor/Notary, Very Rev. Fr. Clement Abobo had alleged that “Fr. Oghenerukevwe entered into marriage with Ms. Dora Chichah on December 29, 2024, at the Streams of Joy Church in Dallas, USA.”

“By this action, Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe has incurred a Latae Sententiae suspension in accordance with the provisions of Canon 1394 S1, and I, Most Rev. Anthony Ovayero Ewherido, Bishop of Warri, do hereby officially decree that he is suspended from the exercise of sacred ministry,” the statement partly read.

“A footage of the marriage reportedly circulated widely on social media had, in addition, prompted the church to act.

“According to the Diocese, even though Fr. Oghenerukevwe had requested on November 30, 2024, to be released from all canonical obligations associated with Holy Orders, the Diocese affirmed that it “reached out to him, asking for the required documents to begin the process, but the priest went on to marry without completing the procedure”.

“As such, he is prohibited from presenting himself as a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Warri in any capacity. All canonical implications associated with this suspension take immediate effect (cf. Can. 1333),” the Church statement posited.

The Diocese, however, remarked that “Fr. Oghenerukevwe retains the right to petition for the revocation or amendment of the decree but must demonstrate a willingness to reform.”

“May God grant him the grace to reflect on this situation and guide him on the path of reconciliation,” the statement concluded.

But more details emerged on Sunday evening on why the now suspended Catholic priest, Rev Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe, dumped his celibacy vows and renounced his priestly calling to marry his heartthrob in Dallas, USA.

A woman who claimed to be the biological sister of the suspended Catholic priest, Mary Okanatotor, maintained that “it was the best decision” for her brother.

Mary, in a social media comment over the reports that her brother (Fr Oghenerukevwe) secretly married her partner in America, attributed his decision to “loneliness.”

She disclosed that Fr. Oghenerukevwe suffered from mental health for a long time and could not handle the “loneliness” as a priest.

She added that the family was not physically present to support the priest when he was undergoing difficult challenges.

She wrote, “Thank you all for the comments, the said priest is my brother and it was the best decision for him because he had a lot of issues with his mental health for a long time and couldn’t deal with the loneliness.

“We, his family members, are not with him to give him support physically. Thank you for your encouraging words.

“This is a trying time for our family, but he who finds a wife finds a good thing.

“Secondly, he did not do a secret marriage as he wrote to the Diocese to inform them of his decision.

“Once again, thank you. For the sponsor of this post, may God bless you and reward you accordingly.”

Fr. Oghenerukevwe, who hails from one of the communities in Ewu Kingdom of Delta State, was ordained as a priest on June 21, 2008, into the Catholic Diocese of Warri.

The World Bank Group has announced the 30-month debarment of two Nigerian companies, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, alongside their Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Norman Didam, for fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices linked to the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Monday, the World Bank disclosed that the project aimed to provide targeted financial assistance to poor and vulnerable households was compromised due to several unethical practices during a 2018 procurement and subsequent contract process.

The statement read, “The World Bank Group today announced the 30-month debarment of two Nigeria-based companies—Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited—and their Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Norman Bwuruk Didam.

“The debarment is in connection with fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices as part of the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.”

The bank said that Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Didam misrepresented a conflict of interest in their bids and accessed confidential tender information from public officials.

It added that these actions constituted fraudulent and collusive practices under its Anti-corruption Framework.

The World Bank further noted that Viva Atlantic Limited and Didam falsified the company’s experience records, submitted fake manufacturer’s authorisation letters, and provided inducements to project officials, which it classified as corrupt practices.

These violations, according to the bank, undermined the integrity of the social safety net initiative designed to benefit Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.

The statement noted, “According to the facts of the case and the general principles of the World Bank’s Anticorruption Framework, in connection with a 2018 procurement and subsequent contract, Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Mr. Didam misrepresented a conflict of interest in the companies’ Letter of Bids and received confidential tender information from public officials, which constituted fraudulent and collusive practices, respectively.

“Further, Viva Atlantic Limited and Mr. Didam misrepresented Viva Atlantic Limited’s experience and submitted falsified manufacturer’s authorization letters, as well as offered and provided things of value to project public officials. These actions were fraudulent and corrupt practices, respectively.”

The debarment precludes the two companies and Didam from participating in World Bank-financed projects and operations for the specified period.

As part of their settlement agreements, the parties acknowledged their culpability and committed to meeting specified conditions, including enhanced compliance measures.

The conditions require Didam to complete individual ethics training, while the companies are mandated to improve their internal integrity compliance policies and implement corporate ethics training programmes in line with the bank’s Integrity Compliance Guidelines.

The bank highlighted that reduced debarment periods were granted due to the parties’ cooperation during investigations, voluntary corrective actions, self-imposed restraints from bidding for contracts, and the time elapsed since the infractions.

The statement added that the debarments qualify for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions, signed in April 2010.

It also stated, “The companies also commit to continue to fully cooperate with the Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency. The settlement agreements feature reduced debarment periods due to the companies’ and Mr Didam’s cooperation with the Bank Group’s investigation, voluntary corrective actions, voluntary restraint from participating in Bank Group tenders, and the passage of time.”

The World Bank reiterated its commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in development projects, stressing that the sanctions demonstrate its zero-tolerance approach to corruption.

It said the implicated parties must fulfil the stipulated conditions during the debarment period to regain eligibility for participation in future Bank-funded initiatives.

[Punch]

Comments by Joe Igbokwe, an All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain condemning the endorsement of Seyi Tinubu as the next Lagos state governor has drawn wide condemnation across the country.

Recall that Igbokwe in a post on his Facebook page said ruling Lagos was not a job for the boys, stating that the call was a distraction aimed at pulling President Bola Tinubu down.

According to Balami, he is mobilizing his supporters and groups across the country and in Lagos to come all out in support of Seyi Tinubu’s whose ability he believes will further reposition Lagos state. According to him, “if Seyi Tinubu agrees to run in the next Lagos governorship election, I will come all out with my army of youths supporters to support him because as a young man I had suffered serious blow in the past years because they saw that I was young and ambitious. This is the time to change the practice of gerontocracy for the good of Lagosions,” he said.

According to Balami, despite his respect for Igbokwe whom he had known to be a youth advocate, his position on this matter is archaic and does not have a place in modern democracy that is chiefly driven by young and innovative minds.

The former spokesman of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, expressed shock that the controversial comment could originate from Igbokwe’s page, saying that good political actors will always stand with what they believe in, “and I had thought Igbokwe believes so much in the potential of the Nigerian youths. I believe that like everyone of us, he knows that the future of this great country lies in the hands of its vibrant youths. It’s therefore contradictory to say otherwise.

“There is no doubt that young people are taking over economically and politically. Historically, good governance is associated with young people who are in leadership positions. This is a fact Igbokwe knows and should defend because he started benefitting from politics very early in life. It was Lagos that reshaped his growth politically. This didn’t start at his current age. The opportunity created for Igbokwe helped him to have a say in Lagos politics. This is why he should leave Seyi Tinubu alone henceforth.

“How old was Yakubu Gowon when he became the nation’s head of state? At the age of 32, his achievements were unmatched. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu led Biafra at 33. Obafemi Awolowo emerged Premier of Western Nigeria only at 37. Peter Obi was handed the mantle as early as 46. Donald Duke did not do badly when he was Cross River State Governor. He was only 37. In comparison to global politics and governance, Emmanuel Macron became the French President at the age of 39. Compare France GDP of $3.31 Trillion to that of Lagos State which has a GDP of $87 Billion, and you will realize that Seyi Tinubu who will be 42 in 2027 stands the better chance of running Lagos better than anyone else.

“It remains a clear case of infringement on one’s fundamental human rights if someone who has hit the franchise age is deliberately denied the right and the opportunity to run and become the governor of Lagos state because of some campaign of calumny.

“And for the fact that the current agitation and campaign against Seyi Tinubu’s age is coming from someone who had not only benefited from the same opportunity but granted the same right as Lagos citizens despite his South East origin is quite disturbing. If Igbokwe could bank on age, why not also look at the pressing question of indigene and relinquish his status as a Lagosian. Using age, gender and tribe as a tool to select our leaders will frustrate leadership by competence and merit.

“My group and I are ready to mobilize support for Seyi Tinubu should he decide to accept his endorsement by the various groups. We will do this to change the notion that the Lagos State governorship seat is reserved for certain age.

“Our interest in Seyi Tinubu is not only because he is a young man with the energy to deliver good governance to Lagosians, it is also because of the leadership he has provided in his capacity as Chief Executive Officers of different companies.

“Empowering young people through his foundation and lifting dashed hopes amid tough times show he is a man in touch with the reality of the ordinary people. I believe that Lagos and Nigeria are for the boys and not for the men. The men have done their best and should now step aside for innovative youths,” he said.

[Vanguard]

US President Donald Trump marked his return to the White House with a flurry of executive orders issued within minutes of his inauguration.

Forced by the biting cold to hold the ceremony inside the Capitol Rotunda, Trump’s sharp address mirrored the weather outside — both were historic in their chill.

The actions are expected to address many issues, including immigration, border security, gender, trade, and geopolitics.

If he signs as many executive orders as he has touted, Trump could exceed the record of 100 set by former President Harry Truman in 1952.

“The golden age of America begins right now,” Trump told a cheering crowd.

Here are a few of the executive orders reeled off by the United States president.

US GOVERNMENT TO ONLY RECOGNISE TWO GENDERS — MALE AND FEMALE

Trump said he would create a society that is “colour-blind and merit-based”.

The US president accused the former administration of socially engineering race and gender into “every aspect of public and private life”.

He clarified that moving forward, it would be the official policy of the US government that there are only two genders, male and female.

Trump’s announcement was met with a standing ovation.

CARTELS TO BE DESIGNATED AS ‘TERRORIST ORGANISATIONS’

Trump said today’s executive orders would designate “the cartels as foreign terrorist organisations”.

He said he would direct the government to use the “full and immense power of federal and state law enforcement” to end “foreign gangs on US soil”.

CHANGE ‘GULF OF MEXICO’ TO ‘GULF OF AMERICA’

Trump said he would rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, as he highlighted the several actions he would take immediately.

“We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring that covers a lot of territory, the Gulf of America,” Trump said.

“What a beautiful name. And it’s appropriate. It’s appropriate. And Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country.”

Presidents have the authority to rename geographic regions and features, but it must be done via executive order.

NATIONAL EMERGENCY AT THE BORDERS

During his inaugural address, Trump said he would declare a national emergency at the southern border, a campaign priority.

“Illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came,” he said.

He asked the immigrants to “remain in Mexico”, vowing to deploy troops who would protect the borders.

Trump was also reported to have scrapped the US law that grants citizenship to children born on American soil regardless of their parent’s immigration status.

‘STRIPES AND STARS ON MARS’

Trump also vowed to launch American astronauts to Mars.

Elon Musk, tech billionaire and founder of SpaceX, the commercial spaceflight company, gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up to the announcement.

Musk, who also owns X, was instrumental in helping Trump reclaim the White House.

Trump announced that Musk will head a new department of government efficiency.

[TheCable]