The Catholic Diocese of Warri has announced the suspension of Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe from priestly duties following reports of his marriage to Ms. Dora Chichah at the Streams of Joy Church in Dallas, USA, on December 29, 2024.
The suspension was confirmed in a statement titled Decree of Suspension, dated January 16, 2025, and signed by Rt. Rev. Anthony Ovayero Ewherido, Bishop of Warri, and Very Rev. Fr. Clement Abobo, the Chancellor/Notary of the diocese.
The church stated that Fr. Oghenerukevwe’s actions violated Canon Law, specifically Canon 1394 §1, which prohibits clerics from contracting marriage. As a result, he has incurred an automatic (Latae Sententiae) suspension.
The statement revealed that Fr. Oghenerukevwe had been out of active ministry in the United States and had previously requested to be released from his priestly obligations in November 2024. The diocese responded by asking him to submit the necessary documents to initiate the process. However, before fulfilling these requirements, he proceeded with the marriage, an act captured in widely circulated footage on social media.
By the suspension, Fr. Oghenerukevwe is barred from performing any sacred duties or presenting himself as a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Warri. The decree also emphasized that he retains the right to appeal for a revocation or amendment of the suspension, provided he demonstrates genuine willingness to reconcile with the church.
“May God grant him the grace to reflect on this situation and guide him on the path of reconciliation,” the statement concluded.
