The Awka Catholic Diocese has raised alarm over the matter, warning members and priests of the diocese, allies and fans of the bishop not to part with their money.

The Yahoo mail of Most Rev Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor, the Bishop of Awka Diocese has been taken over by hackers using it to defraud church members and other friends of the cleric.

It was learned that the email of the cleric was seized by unknown persons, who have been using it to solicit for funds, while masquerading as the bishop.

Sources said many people have been asked to send money to dedicated accounts, with the intention to defraud them, using the name of the bishop.

Meanwhile, the Awka Catholic Diocese has raised alarm over the matter, warning members and priests of the diocese, allies and fans of the bishop not to part with their money.

A press release by the diocesan chancellor, Very Rev Fr Charles Ndubuisi, raised the alarm over the matter, while urging all to discountenance the appeals for fund.

The release read: “Please be kindly informed that the Yahoo mail of His Excellency, Most Rev Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor was just hacked.

“Unfortunately the hackers are currently making so much financial demands. Please ignore any such request coming from anyone pretending to be from the Catholic Bishop of Awka. The bishop has never, and will never solicit funds in this manner.”

Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, it was not clear if some people have fallen prey to the fraudsters.