As a follow-up to the ongoing crisis, the Diocese of Awka, Anglican Communion, has directed all organs under its authority to remain loyal to the embattled Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, and reject any directives from the Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Right Reverend Samuel Ezeofor, following his appointment to oversee Awka Diocese.
The directive came as the Diocesan Board rejected the appointment of Ezeofor as Supervising Bishop of Awka Diocese and Coordinating Bishop of the Province of the Niger, describing the move by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Reverend Henry C. Ndukuba, as unlawful and insisting that Ibezim should remain in office.
The Board also warned that it would not hesitate to involve law enforcement agencies if its position was disregarded, while threatening that the Diocese of Awka could withdraw from the Church of Nigeria and continue with the Church of England if the alleged interference in its affairs persisted.
The positions were contained in a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting of the Diocesan Board held on Friday, October 16, 2026, at the Chapel of Divine Favour, Archbishop’s Palace, Anglican Village, Ifite-Awka, Anambra State. The communiqué, dated October 16, 2026, was signed by the Lord Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka, Sir B.E.I. Nwofor, SAN; the Synod Secretary, Venerable K.E.N. Chukwukamma; and the Lay Synod Secretary, Eugene Chukwudi Okonkwo.
The meeting was convened to deliberate on a letter dated October 13, 2026, by the Primate directing Ibezim to proceed on six months’ compulsory leave and appointing Ezeofor to supervise Awka Diocese and coordinate the Province of the Niger during the period.
Rejecting the directive, the Board argued that the appointment was made while cases involving Ibezim, the Primate and other parties remained pending before the High Court of Anambra State.
It listed Suit No. A/Misc. 446/2025, involving Ibezim and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; Suit No. A/Misc. 494/2026, involving Ibezim and the Inspector General of Police and others; and Suit No. A/371/2026, involving Ibezim against the Primate and the Dean of the Church of Nigeria.
According to the Board, the cases remain before the court, and the issues in dispute include allegations against Ibezim and the actions taken by the church leadership in response to them.
The Board further stated that an injunction issued by the High Court of Anambra State on September 9, 2025, restraining the EFCC and Prince Echezona Bontii Onuigbo in connection with the allegations against Ibezim, was renewed by the consent of the parties on October 14, 2025.
It also pointed to pending applications for injunctions in Suit No. A/371/2026, including a motion seeking to restrain the Primate from issuing any suspension letter or further communication capable of truncating Ibezim’s continuity in office as Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese.
The Board maintained that the Primate and Ezeofor ought to respect the judicial process and refrain from taking steps that could pre-empt the court’s determination of the matters before it.
It also challenged the legal basis for the Primate’s action, arguing that neither the Constitution and Canons of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, 2020, nor the Constitution and Regulation of the Diocese of Awka, 2023, empowered the Primate to compel Ibezim to proceed on leave or appoint another bishop to take over his responsibilities.
The Board further questioned the explanation that the compulsory leave was intended to facilitate an impartial inquiry and promote peace and reconciliation in the diocese.
It alleged that the Primate had earlier constituted two panels to investigate allegations against Ibezim but had withheld their reports despite the completion of their assignments. The first panel, according to the communiqué, was constituted in August 2025 and headed by Justice Babashola Ogunade, while the second was constituted in June 2026 and headed by Archbishop Blessing Enyindah.
The Board argued that the reports should be submitted to the appropriate organs of the church for consideration in line with the Church of Nigeria’s Constitution and Canons.
It also maintained that no money belonging to the Diocese of Awka was missing, stolen, misused or misappropriated by Ibezim, adding that neither of the panels had disclosed any indictment of the archbishop for financial misconduct.
Reaffirming its confidence in Ibezim, the Board commended him for infrastructural development in the diocese and urged him to continue discharging his duties without distraction.
It consequently directed all organs of the Diocese of Awka to continue their lawful activities under Ibezim’s leadership and reject any interference or directive from Ezeofor. It warned that failure to comply with the directive could attract appropriate sanctions.
The Board also cautioned Ezeofor against actions it considered interference in the affairs of Awka Diocese, urging him to concentrate on his work as Bishop of Aguata Diocese rather than take steps capable of destabilising the diocese.
In a further warning, the Board stated that it would not hesitate to invoke the law and involve law enforcement agencies if its position was disregarded.
It added that if the Primate and Ezeofor continued what it described as unlawful interference in the affairs of Awka Diocese, the diocese would withdraw from the Church of Nigeria and continue with the Church of England.
The latest development adds another layer to the dispute over Ibezim’s position following the Primate’s directive. While the Diocesan Board insists that Ibezim remains in office and has urged church organs to reject Ezeofor’s directives, the communiqué reflects the Board’s position in the ongoing dispute.
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