The lingering crisis in the Awka Anglican Diocese has taken a fresh turn as a senior Anglican clergyman, Ven. Dr. Ifeanyi Umeh, has accused the former Registrar of the Diocese, Barr. Chris Adimorah, of fraud, betrayal, and deceit against the church and its leader, Archbishop Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger.
In a strongly worded statement made available to newsmen, Ven. Umeh, who supervised Diocesan land in Ngozika Estate, Awka, alleged that Adimorah diverted church property by fraudulently collecting ₦20 million into his personal account in exchange for two plots of land belonging to the Diocese.
According to him, the act was carried out between 2023 and 2024 without the knowledge of the Archbishop or the Diocese. He said Adimorah’s fraudulent dealings only came to light when the Archbishop moved to recover the lands and insisted that the rightful payment be made directly into the Diocese’s accounts.
“Because our Archbishop discovered that Barr. Sir Chris Adimorah, former Registrar Diocese of Awka, collected ₦20 million from some people who paid supposed Diocesan money into his personal account and gave them two plots of land in false exchange, he has since gone overboard to discredit the Archbishop simply because of filthy lucre,” Umeh said.
Ven. Umeh explained that by March 2025, the Archbishop had successfully recovered the diverted properties, ensuring that the rightful value of the two plots was officially paid into the Diocese’s account. He said it was after this recovery that Adimorah turned against the Archbishop and the system he once defended.
He noted that contrary to recent allegations flying against Archbishop Ibezim, all official land transactions of the Diocese were duly approved by the Diocesan Board and all payments made into church accounts. The only exception, he stressed, was the illegal collection by Adimorah.
Umeh described ongoing allegations against the Archbishop as malicious conspiracies, empty blackmail, and cover-up schemes designed to shield Adimorah’s misconduct.
“Faceless people are raising malicious conspiracies and accusations against the Archbishop and the Church, but the church is wiser. The accusations and accusers shall not stand because they are based on lies and falsehood. The truth shall surely stand tall through time and season,” he declared.
The clergyman reaffirmed confidence in Archbishop Ibezim’s leadership, stressing that he has fought hard to protect and expand the Diocese’s properties despite attempts to tarnish his reputation.
“The Archbishop is clean and has fought to secure the properties of the church and to enlarge the Diocese on every side. The Church shall continue to march forward, and the gates of hell shall not stand against it,” Umeh concluded.
Source; Anglican Diocese of Awka
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