The Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka, Anglican Communion, B.E.I. Nwofor, SAN, has demanded N5 billion in damages from the Bishop of Aguata, Rt. Rev. Dr Samuel C. Ezeofor, over a letter purporting to remove him from office, describing the publication as libellous and threatening legal action if his demands are not met.
Nwofor, in a letter addressed to Ezeofor in response to the October 17, 2026, correspondence titled “Removal as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion),” demanded the immediate withdrawal of the disputed letter, a public apology and payment of N5 billion in damages.
The legal practitioner gave Ezeofor one day from the delivery of his letter to withdraw the disputed publication, two days to publish an unqualified written public apology with the same level of publicity as the original letter, and seven days to pay the demanded damages.
He warned that failure, refusal or neglect to comply with the demands would leave him with no option but to institute legal proceedings against the Aguata bishop to seek redress.
Nwofor argued that Ezeofor, as the serving Bishop of Aguata Diocese, lacked the constitutional authority to appoint or remove the Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka, insisting that the purported removal was null and void.
He also challenged the legitimacy of the letterhead bearing the inscription, “Office of the Supervising Bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Samuel C. Ezeofor,” which he said was used to communicate the purported removal.
According to him, the office of the Supervising Bishop, as described in the letterhead, was neither recognised nor provided for under the Constitution and Regulations of the Diocese of Awka, 2023.
Nwofor maintained that the Diocese of Awka had its own constitution governing its administration and that any action concerning the office of its chancellor must comply with the provisions of the document.
Citing Section 10.4 of the Constitution and Regulations of the Diocese of Awka, 2023, he explained that the administration of the diocese during the absence or illness of its bishop was to be provided for by the bishop in consultation with the chancellor.
The provision, he said, empowers the bishop, in consultation with the chancellor, to appoint an administrator who would exercise the same authority and jurisdiction as the bishop during the latter’s absence or incapacity.
He further stated that, in the event of the bishop’s death or resignation, the administrator would retain the authority until the Primate of the Church of Nigeria issued an order providing for the administration of the diocese during the vacancy.
He warned that failure, refusal or neglect to comply with the demands would leave him with no option but to institute legal proceedings against the Aguata bishop to seek redress.
Nwofor argued that Ezeofor, as the serving Bishop of Aguata Diocese, lacked the constitutional authority to appoint or remove the Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka, insisting that the purported removal was null and void.
He also challenged the legitimacy of the letterhead bearing the inscription, “Office of the Supervising Bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Samuel C. Ezeofor,” which he said was used to communicate the purported removal.
According to him, the office of the Supervising Bishop, as described in the letterhead, was neither recognised nor provided for under the Constitution and Regulations of the Diocese of Awka, 2023.
Nwofor argued that the circumstances contemplated by the constitutional provisions concerning the death or resignation of the bishop had not arisen to warrant the Primate’s intervention in the administration of the Diocese of Awka.
He also cited Chapter 16 of the diocesan constitution, which provides that the Bishop of Awka has the discretion to appoint the chancellor, deputy chancellor, registrar, deputy registrar and legal secretaries as legal officers of the diocese.
Nwofor said he was appointed chancellor by Archbishop Alexander C. Ibezim, the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of the Diocese of Awka, pursuant to the constitutional provision.
He insisted that his tenure remained valid, arguing that none of the circumstances specified under Section 16.2 of the constitution for the termination of the tenure of a chancellor or other legal officer had occurred.
According to him, the section provides for the cessation of office upon death, loss of the office by virtue of which the appointment was made, resignation, a declaration of bankruptcy or insanity by a competent authority, or conviction for a criminal offence involving moral turpitude or another offence under Canon XV of the Canons of the Church of Nigeria.
Nwofor maintained that none of these conditions applied to him and that he remained the incumbent Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka.
He further faulted Ezeofor for allegedly failing to identify the specific constitutional provision empowering him, as Bishop of Aguata Diocese, to remove the chancellor of another diocese.
The lawyer also challenged the allegations contained in the disputed letter that he had engaged in “ignoble and unfortunate activities” relating to events in the Diocese of Awka, undermined the authority of the Primate of the Church of Nigeria and disobeyed lawful directives issued by church authorities.
He demanded that the allegations be substantiated with specific details, including the activities in question and the particular directives he was accused of violating.
Nwofor further disclosed that Ezeofor’s appointment letter was being challenged before the High Court of Anambra State in Suit No. A/371/2026, with a motion, No. A/1795m/2026, reportedly pending to set aside the letter.
He argued that the disputed publication had damaged his reputation and exposed him to public ridicule, contempt and disrepute.
The letter warned that he would seek judicial redress if Ezeofor failed to comply with the demands within the stipulated periods.
As of the time of this report, no response from Ezeofor was contained in the correspondence made available.
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