The Catholic Secretariat in Abuja which also confirmed the death of the Archbishop said he was called home to eternal rest on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the age of 69.
Born in 1956, Archbishop Akubeze was ordained a Catholic priest on October 3, 1987. He was appointed the pioneer Bishop of Uromi on December 14, 2005, and consecrated on February 25, 2006.
According to the statement, Akubeze was later appointed Archbishop of Benin City on March 18, 2011, and installed on April 28, 2011. He also served as a past President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.
“Throughout his ministry, Archbishop Akubeze lived out his episcopal motto, “Ut Testimonium perhibeam veritati” (“That I may bear witness to the Truth”).
“He is remembered as a humble, gentle, and complete gentleman who focused on spiritual renewal, structural development, and the welfare of his priests and the good of his flock.
“The Church commends his soul to the infinite mercy of God and prays for eternal rest upon him. Funeral arrangements will be communicated by the Archdiocese at a later date,” the the statement read.
Onyebuchi Ezigbo
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