By Chuks Nwokeji
The reported controversial exhumation of Late Ifeanyichukwu Donatus Amuchienwa is taking another serious religious dimension as many Catholic women from different parishes in Owerri Capital Territory have seriously condemned it and are joining forces to battle the desecration of the deceased, intimidation of his legitimate wife, Barr. Mrs. Ogechi Henrietta Amuchienwa, and her children.
From available reports, majority of Catholics that condemned it in their gathering and church premises did so after their Parish Priest spoke against it during mass and adoration. Most of them suggested a heavy protest that will register their anger, citing that as a corpse buried by the church with a holy mass under a Catholic priest, the exhumed corpse belongs to the Catholic Church, and its desecration is an affront to the Catholic Church.
Recall that the exhumation of Late Ifeanyichukwu Donatus Amuchienwa was ordered by the Acting Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, at the request of Chinyere Igwegbe in an ex parte Order she sought for in agreement with her two sons, Charles Nnanna and Otitodilichukwu Amuchienwa, in Suit No: MH1/144/2025.
A credible source hinted that Charles Nnanna and Otitodilichukwu Amuchienwa purportedly ignored their father while he was on his sick bed; there were alleged reports that Charles never picked his calls, even when his father called him to wish him a happy birthday while on his sick bed and sent people to reach out to him, he reportedly ignored him. After his demise, Chinyere, in a recorded voice note, said she and her children are not interested. The million-dollar question Charles should answer is this: why did he not invite his father to his church wedding? Who presided over the presentation of cola at his wedding and played a fatherly role during his wedding?
It is unfortunate that after the death of their father, they joined their mother to desecrate their father's corpse, an action both clerics and traditionalists said carries a heavy curse against them. Igwegbe is said to be a purportedly separated wife of the deceased for over 32 years. Inside sources said she has not lived with the deceased for over three decades.
The Court Order and the exhumation, seen as controversial, have raised big concerns about alleged manipulations to deceive the judiciary, played up judicial bias, and exposed misuse of judicial authority.
Most Catholic women who are highly provoked that Chinyere Igwege, with questionable legal and customary standing and an indisputable record of living in separation from the deceased for over 32 years until his demise, is the one behind the insult on the Catholic Church.
Although no Catholic Women Organization from any parish has issued an official statement, many Catholic women from different parishes who spoke to (link unavailable) noted there is a silent but serious move to stage a mother of all protests against Chinyere, her children, the unknown venue of the corpse, and their major financial supporters.
Others who expressed deep concern were of the view that it is possible to mutilate his body, leave it for a long time, and later carry out an autopsy that will appear real and favor their allegation.
A credible source revealed to (link unavailable) online newspaper that many Catholic clerics have condemned the exhumation during mass as well as adoration periods, which helped to trigger reactions from CWO.
Speaking, Mrs. Catherine Anukam from St. Paul's Catholic Church Nekede Old Road acknowledged she is aware of the matter and suggested the need for Catholic women to come under one umbrella to make a bold and confrontational move against it because the corpse belongs to the Catholic Church.
Her words: "Those who are Catholics involved in this should be sanctioned. It is an insult for Chinyere, whom we know is also a Catholic, to spearhead this insult against the church. She deserves severe sanction. This alleged frame-up and mischievous allegation against her fellow woman shall not go unpunished, both by nature and God."
A parishioner at Assumpta Cathedral, Lolo Chioma Uzoh, hinted that many Catholic women are contemplating staging a protest against the exhumation because the corpse belongs to the Catholic Church.
"It is an insult to the global Catholic community to exhume a corpse buried by a Catholic priest with questionable allegations that never surfaced before and during the time they went to Amauburu Parish, Kings Palace, Customary Court, and such issues never surfaced in about 5 months in the mortuary," Mrs. Ifeoma Obi, from Egbeada Parish, said she is eager to join in any protest if they finally conclude on a date, stating that the intimidation and persecution of the widow by Chinyere with conspiracy from the high and mighty can happen to any other widow tomorrow.
In the views of Ezinne Chikaodi Emeh, "Roman Catholics need to ask questions, what really happened, and why the corpse was removed in an alleged criminal manner. Those behind this, particularly Chinyere and her sons, Charles Nnanna Amuchienwa and Otitodilichukwu Amuchienwa, deserve disciplinary action from the global Catholic Church, including anywhere she lives and worships.
She questioned; did she tell the Acting Chief Judge that she purportedly fabricated this allegation four days to the burial? Did she tell the court she lived in separation without the deceased for over 32 years until his demise on earth? Horrible things, Igwegbe did in conspiracy with the siblings of Late Chief Ifeanyichukwu Donatus Amuchienwa before, during, and after the burial are in the public domain, and their wickedness is well known to both humans and spirits.
She conspired with siblings of the deceased to discourage the Catholic Parish of JMJ Amauburu, Rev. Father Alexander Okoro, from burying him with peddled falsehood that he married three wives, did not wed in the Catholic Church, and was not a qualified Catholic, but available records from his Kano parish provided by Rev. Father Alex Shukau proved them wrong.
It is worthy to note that at this point, there was no issue or allegation of stabbing the deceased to death. On inquiries by the leadership of the Catholic Church in Amauburu, a letter from his parish priest in Kano, by Rev. Father Alex Shukau, proved that Late Chief Ifeanyichukwu Donatus Amuchienwa was a communicant, dedicated, and highly committed to the doctrines of the Catholic Church.
A letter from his Kano Parish was written on 23rd May 2025, and it read in parts: 'Late Ifeanyichukwu Donatus Amuchienwa was a fully committed and dedicated member and in full communion with the Catholic Church, therefore he deserves a full Catholic funeral ceremony. In this regard, I appeal to you to assist in any way possible to have a befitting Catholic burial, thanks for your anticipated support'.
Following the clarity of records from his Kano parish priest, his home parish priest at JMJ Amauburu approved that the Catholic Church would bury him because of his glaring record as a communicant.
After approval, this separated wife of over 32 years dragged the Catholic priest to court in secret conspiracy with the siblings of the deceased, particularly those he warned not to see his corpse because of their wicked acts against him and the manner they abandoned him on his sick bed while he suffered kidney failure.
It is on record that when Amuchienwa Family Head, Pastor Goddy Amuchienwa, made efforts to bring them together under one umbrella, they waved aside his patriotic moves for peace.
This same separated wife of over 32 years also insulted Rev. Father Alexander Okoro, who performed his official priestly duty. When they approached the church at Amauburu with allegations that the man married three wives and Ogechi was not legitimately married, the Catholic priest made it clear to them that they have rules and documentation and there is a need to follow the rules.
After checks, it proved the peddled falsehood with mischievousness. It is on record that she insulted Rev. Father Alexander Okoro of Amauburu, an 80-year-old priest simply because he checked documents, investigated, verified the truth, and firmly stood by it.
In reality, Late Chief Ifeanyichukwu Donatus rightfully wedded his wife, Barr. Mrs. Ogechi Amuchienwa, in the Catholic Church with marriage certificate number 1480. He was a communicant, and he cleared his debts. CWO and CMO came and identified with the legitimate wife, Ogechi Amuchienwa.
When the same people met Rev. Father Alexander of Amauburu Parish, their agitation was against the burial date because they gave prominence to the burial of Mrs. Maria's husband at Mbieri, maybe because she calls the shots with foreign currency, that's why they want to cancel the burial date of their brother.
Recall that after Amauburu Catholic Priest decided to do the needful, he was dragged to court in Suit No: CC/NW/70/2025. That suit was firmly challenged. A lawyer, Barr. Wilson, entered a protest, challenging the court's jurisdiction to hear the matter because the priest acted in his official capacity, but they sued him in a personal capacity. Based on that, the case was quashed, and the court declined jurisdiction to preside over the matter.
If I may ask, the lawyer that sued the Rev. Father in his personal capacity for performing an official priestly function, where did she study law?
Totally displeased that Chinyere has always addressed Ogechi as a house help turned lover, when in reality she was legitimately wedded traditionally and in the Catholic Church, and in court, some cautioned her to mind her words and stop painting actions of the church black. Others asked Chinyere to present her own marriage certificate from the Catholic Church or court wedding certificate if she is truly sure that Late Chief Ifeanyichukwu Donatus Amuchienwa wedded her in the Catholic Church and in court, and not Ogechi.
The case and comments of Chinyere Igwege have highlighted concerns about the integrity of the judiciary, with questions on the motives behind the exhumation order and a call for judicial accountability. The exhumation has also raised questions about the role of tradition and culture in judicial decisions. Many are demanding respect for the dignity of the deceased, full protection of the rights and privileges of his legitimate wife, Ogechi Amuchienwa, and her children, who are at the center of this intimidation and deliberate set-up to destroy them.
Many observers are eagerly waiting for the next developments; Concerned Catholic women in Owerri Capital are silently rallying behind the widow for justice. According to credible sources, the leadership of Catholic Women in Mbaitoli and Owerri are solidly behind her and will soon make a bold statement with clear action.