Nigerian priest removed by Archdiocese of Boston after claims of child sex abuse

A priest from Nigeria has been removed of his faculties to minister after the Archdiocese of Boston received an allegation that he sexually abused a child, the archdiocese said Tuesday.

The archdiocese received an allegation Aug. 31 against Rev. Christian Ohazulume, an extern priest from Nnewi, Nigeria. The incident allegedly happened in Randolph in 2007, while Ohazulume was living with a family after he arrived in the United States, according to the archdiocese.

Ohazulume pleaded not guilty to three counts of aggravated assault and battery on a child under age 14 in Quincy District Court. He is expected to post the $5,000 cash bail set by the judge. If he does, he must wear a GPS bracelet and forfeit his passports.

Ohazulume had been a chaplain at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center since 2010. He has resided at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Brookline since 2010, where he assisted in celebrating Mass and heard confessions, the archdiocese said.

The archdiocese notified law enforcement about the allegations.

Ohazulume was also removed from his work at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

“When the Archdiocese informed us about the allegation and its decision to revoke Rev. Ohazulume’s ministry faculties, we immediately placed him on unpaid leave and terminated him shortly thereafter. He is no longer employed by BIDMC," the hospital said.

The church announced Tuesday that Cardinal Sean O'Malley and other top U.S. church officials will be meeting with Pope Francis on Thursday to discuss the the sex abuse and cover-up scandal roiling the Catholic Church.