The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev. Godfrey Onah, has recounted his experience at a Vatican bank in Italy, where he said he was restricted from withdrawing a certain amount of money from his account without additional authorisation.
Onah disclosed that the incident occurred during a recent visit to the bank, where he was informed that he had exceeded the withdrawal limit and needed approval from the secretariat before he could access the money.
The cleric said the restriction irritated him, prompting him to ask another priest in Italy whether the same rule applied to everyone.
According to him, the priest explained that the treatment could depend on the country a customer came from.
Reflecting on the experience, the bishop lamented the difficulties Nigerians sometimes encounter while living abroad, suggesting that their nationality could complicate otherwise ordinary transactions.
“Sometimes, for us Nigerians, the very fact that you are a Nigerian living abroad becomes a problem. It automatically complicates life for you,” Onah said.
His account has drawn attention to concerns about how nationality can influence the experiences of Nigerians abroad, particularly when accessing financial services and navigating institutional procedures.
However, the specific withdrawal policy involved in the incident and whether it was applied because of the bishop’s nationality have not been independently established.
