The Catholic Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Benin City, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, has died at the age of 69.
The respected cleric reportedly passed away on Thursday, July 9, 2026.
His death was announced by the Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Oyanoafoh, in an official statement.
The statement read in part: “On behalf of the Consultors of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, we announce with profound sorrow, yet with a firm hope in the resurrection, the passing of our dearly beloved father and Archbishop, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, who was called home to the Lord on Thursday, July 9, 2026.”
Archbishop Akubeze was ordained a Catholic priest on October 3, 1987. He was appointed Bishop of Uromi on December 14, 2005, and was consecrated on February 25, 2006, before later serving as Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City.
