Anglican Church Crisis: Awka Diocesan Board Rejects Bishop Samuel Ezeofor, Threatens To Pull Out Of Church of Nigeria

Tensions have escalated within the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) as the Diocese of Awka, Anambra State has formally rejected the directive by the Primate, The Most Revd Henry C. Ndukuba that Archbishop Alexander C. Ibezim should proceed on a six-month compulsory leave.

A statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com on Sunday noted that the decision to defy the Primate’s directive was taken during an emergency meeting of the Awka Diocesan Board held at the Chapel of Divine Favour, Anglican Village, Ifite-Awka on Friday, October 16, 2026.

The ecclesiastical clash was sequel to a letter dated October 13, 2026, in which Primate Ndukuba had directed Archbishop Ibezim, who also serves as the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Province of the Niger, to step aside for six months. The Primate cited reports from administrative panels, including a visitation team led by the Dean of the Church of Nigeria.

That was not all, he had gone ahead to appoint Rt. Revd Samuel C. Ezeofor (Bishop of Aguata Diocese) as the supervising bishop of Awka Diocese and coordinating bishop of the province.

The Awka Diocesan Board in a communique issued after the ‘important’ meeting held in Ifite-Awka on Friday dismissed the directive in its entirety arguing that the action taken by the Primate is illegal and unconstitutional while noting that he had disregarded pending lawsuits before the High Court of Anambra State, including Suit No. A/Misc 446/2025 (Ibezim v. EFCC), Suit No. A/Misc. 494/2026 (Ibezim v. Inspector General of Police & Ors) and Suit No. A/371/2026 (Ibezim v. Henry C. Ndukuba & Anor).

The communique was signed by SIR B.E.I Nwofor, Ven. K.E.N Chukwukamma, PhD, Synod Secretary and Mr. Eugene Chukwudi Okonkwo , Lay Synod Secretary. 

The board emphasized that the allegations which center on disputed church land transactions valued over ₦2 billion are sub judice and protected by subsisting court injunctions while adding that the church’s 2020 Constitution and Canons do not empower the Primate to force a sitting archbishop to embark on compulsory leave or bar him from ecclesiastical functions.

Expressing total confidence in Archbishop Ibezim’s leadership and record of infrastructural development, the board warned Bishop Ezeofor against interfering in the affairs of the diocese and cautioned that continued pressure from the national church hierarchy could prompt the diocese to withdraw its affiliation from the Church of Nigeria.

‘His Grace, The Most Revd Henry C. Ndukuba, Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, His Lordship Rt. Revd Samuel C. Ezeofor and many members of the Church of Nigeria are fully aware of the pendency in court of these cases and are duty bound in law to refrain from doing anything whatsoever to interfere with the subject matters of the suits until the determination of the cases by the court. The matters are sub judice. 

To the knowledge of the Primate and His Lordship, The  Rt. Revd Samuel C. Ezeofor, there are subsisting orders of injunction on the subject matter of the allegations against His Grace, The Most Revd Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim made by the High Court of Anambra State on the 9th day of September, 2025 which restrains the EFCC and Prince Echezona Bonti Onuigbo and which was renewed by the consent of the parties on 14th October, 2025.

There are also pending motions of injunction in suit No A/371/2026 – The Most Revd Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim VS The Most Revd Henry C. Ndukuba and Anor seeking to restrain the Primate from writing and issuing any letter of suspension or any further letter which will have the effect of truncating the continuity in office of His Grace, the Most Revd Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, PhD as the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese Anglican Communion.

The Primate and Rt Revd Ezeofor  are fully aware that no one is above the law irrespective of his or her  position or status, and ought to be law-abiding and respect the court where the allegations against Archbishop Ibezim are pending for determination. They are also aware that it is unlawful and contemptuous to disregard the court and take the law into their own hands by actions which have the effect of preempting or anticipating the decisions of the court such as the letter under reference. 

Furthermore, there is no provision in both the Constitution and Canons of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 2020 and the Constitution and Regulation of the Diocese of Awka 2023 which empowered, mandate or authorised the Primate, the  Most Revd Henry C. Ndukuba to direct Archbishop Ibezim to proceed on compulsory leave for Six Months or any period at all or to appoint any Bishop as the supervising Bishop of the Diocese of Awka and coordinating Bishop of the Province of the Niger to assume and exercise all episcopal responsibilities and oversight of the Diocese of Awka and the Province of the Niger during the period of the purported leave.

 Section 29(1) of the Constitution and Canons of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 2020 cited by the Primate in his letter of 13th October, 2026 is inapplicable as it contains nothing empowering the Primate to force a fellow Bishop and Archbishop to proceed on compulsory leave and handover his duties to another Bishop and precluding the Bishop from officiating in any activities of the Church of Nigeria  (Anglican Communion),  of the Niger Province and Awka Diocese. 

Such draconian, oppressive, vindictive and grossly unjust decisions by the Primate against Archbishop Ibezim violates section 36 (5) the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended which presumes any one accused or charged with a criminal offence as innocent until proven guilty. Also, by banning him from officiating in any activities of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), of the Niger Province and Diocese of Awka, the Primate violated section 38 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended which gave Archbishop Ibezim the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and to propagate his religion in worship, teaching, practice and observance’ the Board submitted.

The Board also noted that the reason given in the letter in question that the directive asking Archbishop Ibezim to proceed on compulsory leave is meant to ‘facilitate impartial enquiry into the state of affairs of your Diocese to promote peace and reconciliation’ is a ruse because the Primate had failed to disclose that he had earlier constituted two distinct panels of inquiry for the same purpose of investigating allegations made against Archbishop Ibezim and the two panels submitted reports to him after their work which he has withheld and refused to make public .

‘The 1st panel was constituted via the Primate’s letter dated Wednesday, 13th August, 2025 headed by Honourable Justice Babashola Ogunade and the 2nd one was constituted by his letter dated Wednesday, 17th June, 2026 headed His Grace Archbishop Blessing Enyindah.

By withholding the reports of the said two panels that investigated Archbishop Ibezim, the Primate violated section 75(3), (4) and (5) and section 76(3), (4) and (5) of   the Constitution and Canons of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 2020 which mandatorily require him to submit the findings and recommendations of the panels to the Episcopal Synod for consideration which may after the consideration of the reports review, modify, reject, or adopt the recommendations which shall be subject to the approval of the standing committee and the approval of the Standing Committee shall be subject to ratification by the General Synod whose decision on the subject shall be final and binding.

Having noted the foregoing unconstitutional, illegal, unlawful and unjust appointment made by the Primate, the Board unequivocally rejects it. 

The Board categorically affirms that Archbishop Ibezim remains in his position as Bishop of Awka  Diocese and Archbishop, Province of the Niger Anglican Communion and should continue to discharge the duties of his office.

The Board hereby expresses its total confidence and trust in the honesty, integrity, competence, ability and devotion to duty of Archbishop Alexander Chibuzor Ibezim in the discharge of his duties.

The Board hereby affirms that Awka Diocese is peaceful, united and progressive.

The Board unequivocally affirms that no money of Awka Diocese is missing, stolen, misused, or misappropriated by Archbishop Ibezim. Even the two panels set up by the Primate have not disclosed any indictment of financial misdeed by Archbishop Ibezim. 

The Board commends His Grace, The Most Revd Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, PhD for the massive infrastructural developments completed in Awka Diocese and urges him to continue with his good work and not to be distracted’ the board said.

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Warning that it will not accept any interference in the affairs of the Diocese of Awka by Rt Revd Ezeofor and urging him to concentrate on his duties as Bishop of Aguata Diocese and not to be used as an instrument to destabilize or foment trouble in ‘our peaceful Diocese of Awka’, the board threatens to take drastic actions if the Primate continues to take steps to derecognize Revd Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim.

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‘The Board will not hesitate to invoke the law as well as law enforcement agencies if our warning is ignored.

The Board directs all organs of the Diocese of Awka to remain loyal to His Grace, The Most Revd Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, PhD and to go ahead with their lawful activities and reject any interference or directive from Rt Revd Ezeofor. To do otherwise will attract appropriate sanctions.

The Board emphatically states that if the Primate and Bishop Ezeofor continue to threaten the peace of Awka Diocese and its Archbishop and bishop and unlawfully interfere in its affairs, it shall withdraw from the Church of Nigeria and continue with Church of England which never disturbed the Diocese’ the communique said-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you