HOMOSEXUALITY SCANDAL HITS NIGERIA CATHOLIC CHURCH - PART II

HOMOSEXUALITY SCANDAL HITS NIGERIA CATHOLIC CHURCH - PART II

“Nonetheless, after carefully reviewing the entire case, and considering the seriousness of the original accusation, your credibility as the accuser, and other surrounding concerns, the DDF observed that a degree of suspicion remained regarding Father Kenneth’s conduct.

“Therefore, during its session of 9th May 2025, the DDF imposed a canonical rebuke and issued a warning, instructing Father Kenneth to prudently avoid any persons or situations that could compromise his obligation to observe continence or cause scandal among the faithful.”

Catholic law breached?

A Catholic priest, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on condition of anonymity because he could not be seen openly criticising the church, said justice was not served in the matter.

The reverend father, after reading a copy of the bishop’s decision letter sent to Bayo, said there were contradictions in the statement, describing it as troubling.

He also wondered why the civil authorities were not involved since the complainant was a minor when the abuse started.

“The bishop’s letter repeatedly invokes canonical procedure and the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, yet admits to grave irregularities.

“The complete acts (acta) of the case were never transmitted in full to the DDF for years, despite multiple Vatican requests (2016, 2018, 2020). This omission is a breach of can. 1719 CIC and Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela (art. 16), which require that all acts be preserved and forwarded.

“The complainant was not informed of the canonical lawyer allegedly representing him. This violates Vos estis lux mundi (VELM, art. 6), which guarantees victims the right to participate and to have representation of their choosing.

“The principle of ne bis in idem (no double trial) was applied despite evidence that the first process was procedurally defective. Canon law (can. 1645 §1, 4°) allows a case to be reopened when new evidence emerges or when serious procedural irregularities have occurred.

“The bishop’s own letter concedes that ‘a degree of suspicion remained’ about the priest’s conduct, yet the penalty was only a canonical rebuke (can. 1339 §1 CIC). Church law (SST, art. 6) treats sexual acts or advances toward minors as delicta graviora warranting dismissal from the clerical state when credible evidence is found.”

According to him, the complainant was a vulnerable minor under both the canon law and Nigerian civil law.

He wondered how the purported phone conversation between the duo presented by Bayo did not affect the outcome of the investigations.

The priest said the church’s Vos estis lux mundi, Pope Francis’ 2019 Motu Proprio On the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons, and the Pastoral Guidelines for Responding to Allegations of Sexual Abuse, were violated as per the rights of victims of abuse.

He wondered why the accused priest was not suspended during investigations.

“It is noteworthy that nowhere in the bishop’s letter is it stated whether Father Kenneth was temporarily removed from ministry pending the investigation.

“According to Canon 1722 CIC, the diocesan bishop, after hearing the promoter of justice and citing the accused, may at any stage of the process remove the accused from sacred ministry or office to prevent scandal, protect the freedom of witnesses, and safeguard the course of justice.

“This precautionary measure is strengthened in Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela (art. 19) and the 2020 CDF Vademecum (§§58–62), which direct that, once an allegation has the semblance of truth (notitia de delicto verisimilis), restrictions on ministry should be applied immediately. The omission of any mention of such a measure raises serious questions about whether the diocese fulfilled its canonical and moral duty to protect the faithful during the pendency of the case.

“If, in fact, no precautionary suspension was imposed, this would represent a clear breach of safeguarding obligations under both canonical and universal church norms. The failure to restrict a priest from public ministry in the face of a credible allegation involving a minor not only jeopardises the safety of other potential victims but also undermines the church’s credibility in handling such grave matters.

“By limiting the response to a mild rebuke while acknowledging ongoing suspicion, the diocese sends a dangerous message: that clerics can retain ministry even when credible allegations of sexual misconduct with minors remain unresolved. This undermines Pope Francis’ repeated call for “zero tolerance” (Address to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, 21 September 2017).”

The Bishop of Ijebu Ode diocese, Adeshina, declined comment on the matter.

He said, “This is an internal matter of the church, and I am not allowed by law to speak to the press about it.”

Father Kenneth, during a phone conversation with our correspondent, said he could no longer hear the journalist after the allegations were laid out.

The following conversation ensued:

Saturday PUNCH: Good morning sir

Father Kenneth: Good morning

Saturday PUNCH: I am so sorry for disturbing. I have been trying to reach you. Am I speaking with Reverend Kenneth?

Father Kenneth: You’re calling from where?

Saturday PUNCH: I am calling from PUNCH…Well done sir, with the great job you’re doing and the work of God.

Father Kenneth: Thank God

Saturday PUNCH: Sir, I’m calling because of a case in front of me and I felt that no matter what I should speak with you about the case. I was told a decision was taken over an allegation of sexual abuse and I was told you were rebuked. And I spoke to the complainant, who said you abused him and others in your care. So, I need you to respond

Father Kenneth: Hello…hello

Saturday PUNCH: I can hear you clearly, it is very clear…

Father Kenneth: Hello….helloo

Subsequent attempts to get him to speak proved abortive.

In less than three minutes afterwards, his phone was switched off.

A text message sent to him on Thursday at exactly 11.48am, in which our correspondent repeated the allegations, were not responded to as of 11.59pm on Friday when this report went to bed.

The complainant, Bayo, later called to say some priests were bombarding him with calls and urging him to stop the story.

He also claimed that members of his extended family were facing backlash and were scared for their safety.

Saturday PUNCH subsequently sent a message to Bishop Adeshina to report the alleged threat, urging the church to address the allegations instead.

A spokesman for the diocese, Rev. Michael Banjo, on Friday, said the decision to rebuke Kenneth was taken from Rome.

He said, “From the outset in 2015, Bayo was informed that, under the universal law of the Catholic Church, cases of this nature are referred to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) in Rome for final determination.

“In line with the DDF’s directives, the diocese undertook the necessary canonical investigations, which were thorough and impartial, and forwarded the complete acts to the DDF for review.

“After a thorough process that included multiple stages of examination, the DDF issued its judgment in May 2025. Bayo has been advised that, if dissatisfied, the proper recourse is to appeal to the DDF, which remains the competent authority on this matter.

“The diocese takes objectivity, truth, and safeguarding very seriously, and remains committed to ensuring that all matters are handled with fairness, due process, and respect for the dignity of all parties involved.”

A request for confirmation of Banjo’s claim was sent to the Holy See Press Office (Rome) by Saturday PUNCH.

However, there was no official response to the email as of press time.

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