Catholic Archbishop of Benin dies one month before retirement

By Ozioruva Aliu

Catholic Archbishop of Benin, Most Rev. Fr. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, has died barely one month before his retirement.

He was said to have died in his sleep while on vacation abroad.

He would have turned 70 on August 25 which would have also signalled his retirement in line with the Catholic Church’s doctrine.

A statement by the Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Oyanoafoh, titled “Notification of Death” officially announced the death of Akubeze “with profound sorrow, yet with a firm hope in the resurrection.”