Tobias Sylvester
A Roman Catholic priest of Holy Cross Parish, Oroma-Etiti, in Anam, Anambra State, Rev. Fr. Charles Okeke-Odogwu has been found dead in his car at the front of Vicarage Gate.
Fr. Charles was siad to be found dead on Tuesday before the gate of the vicarage on the steering stiff.
The Catholic Archdiocesan Secretariat, Onitsha, Office of the Chancellor, Very Rev Fr Dr. Prudentius Aroh, who confirmed the death of Father Charles, expressed their shock over the incident.
”The death of our own Rev Fr Charles Okeke – Odogwu is a fact. Fr Charles died yesterday. The deceased who had participated actively at last Monday’s monthly meeting of the Archdiocesan Presbytery, showed no sign of ill health.”
He reported the mechanic who was with Fr Charles in the car as saying that both of them had been well drenched before the deceased returned to Oroma-etiti that night.
“Regardless of the drenching, the priest switched on his car’s air conditioner and drove on. The mechanic alighted upon getting to his destination and the late Fr Charles continued alone late in the night.
“Upon getting to his parish, Fr Charles had already lost control and the vehicle rolled into the football field with all its lamps on. Fr Charles neither signed off the engine nor alighted from the car. No one was aware of this.”
Parishioners came for Mass and after waiting unusually long without seeing the priest, they decided to search for him and eventually sighted a car with all its lamps on at the field.
They went straight to it and when they opened the driver’s door, they beheld Fr Charles already stiff dead to their shock.
As at the time of filing this report, no official medical report surrounding the Catholic priest’s death has been made public.
