Awka Diocese: Challenges Bishop Ibezim Suspension Amid Court Cases

• The Primate of the Church of Nigeria directed Bishop Alexander Ibezim of Awka Diocese to take a six-month compulsory leave on October 13, 2026, citing financial misuse allegations.
• The Awka Diocesan Board rejected this directive and the appointment of a supervising bishop, threatening to withdraw from the Church of Nigeria if the decisions are not reversed.
• The Board's rejection, formalized on October 16, 2026, is primarily based on three pending court cases involving Bishop Ibezim, including an EFCC investigation.
• These legal actions include Suit No. A/371/2026, where Bishop Ibezim is suing Primate Ndukuba, among others, before the Anambra State High Court.
• The Diocese argues that internal disciplinary actions should be disregarded while these legal matters are under judicial consideration to prevent interference with court proceedings.

The Awka Diocesan Board has emphatically rejected the Primate's directive, arguing that such actions should be disregarded given the existence of multiple ongoing court cases involving Bishop Ibezim and other parties.

The Diocesan Board of Awka, Anglican Communion, has issued a strong rebuke against a recent directive from the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba. The Primate had mandated that Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, who serves as both the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of the Diocese of Awka, commence a six-month compulsory leave immediately. This instruction, dated Tuesday, October 13, 2026, stemmed from investigations into allegations of financial misuse, misappropriation of funds, and general unrest within the Awka Diocese, alongside other recent developments.

In conjunction with Bishop Ibezim's forced sabbatical, Primate Ndukuba also announced the appointment of the Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, Bishop of the Diocese of Aguata, to serve as the Supervising Bishop for the Awka Diocese and the Coordinating Bishop for the Province of the Niger during Ibezim's absence. However, the Awka Diocesan Board, following an emergency meeting held on Friday, October 16, 2026, at the Chapel of Divine Favour in Ifite-Awka, unequivocally rejected both the compulsory leave for Bishop Ibezim and the appointment of Bishop Ezeofor. The Board further escalated the dispute by threatening to withdraw from the broader Church of Nigeria if these decisions are not reversed.

The core of the Awka Diocesan Board's challenge rests on the existence of several pending legal actions. In a communiqué released after their emergency session, the Board argued that the Primate's directive and the subsequent appointment of a supervising bishop should be set aside due to ongoing court cases involving Bishop Alexander Ibezim, Primate Ndukuba, and other relevant parties. This position was formally articulated in the communiqué, which was made public on Sunday and bore the signatures of key diocesan officials, including the Lord Chancellor, Sir B.E.I. Nwofor, SAN; the Synod Secretary, Ven. K.E.N. Chukwukamma; and the Lay Synod Secretary, Mr. Eugene Okonkwo.

The communiqué specifically cited three suits currently before the Anambra State High Court. These include Suit No. A/Misc. 446/2025, filed on September 4, 2025, which pits Bishop Ibezim against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an ongoing EFCC Bishop Ibezim investigation. Another case, Suit No. A/Misc. 494/2026, filed on October 2, 2026, involves Bishop Ibezim against the Inspector-General of Police and other respondents. Finally, the Anambra State High Court Suit A/371/2026 lists Bishop Ibezim as the plaintiff against Primate Ndukuba and another party. The Awka Diocese maintains that since allegations against Bishop Ibezim are already under judicial review, all parties should refrain from actions that could interfere with the court's determination of these matters.

This unfolding Church of Nigeria Awka Diocese dispute highlights a significant tension between internal ecclesiastical authority and external legal processes. The Awka Diocesan Board's firm stance, backed by the legal counsel of Sir B.E.I. Nwofor, SAN, suggests a strategic use of the judicial system to challenge disciplinary actions from the highest echelons of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria. By invoking the principle that matters under active litigation should not be prejudiced by parallel administrative actions, the Diocese is effectively asserting the supremacy of the courts in resolving disputes, even those originating within a religious body.

The potential for the Awka Diocese to withdraw from the Church of Nigeria underscores the gravity of the situation, indicating a deep-seated disagreement that could lead to a significant schism. This development raises crucial questions about the autonomy of dioceses, the limits of a Primate's authority, and how religious organizations navigate serious allegations against their leaders when those allegations also become subjects of civil and criminal investigations. The outcome of these Bishop Alexander Ibezim court cases and the Church's response will likely set a precedent for future internal conflicts involving legal challenges.

Lawyers should note how pending litigation, specifically ongoing court cases involving financial allegations and police investigations, can be invoked to challenge and potentially halt internal disciplinary directives within large organizations like religious bodies. This case underscores the importance of assessing the legal implications of internal actions when external legal processes are active, particularly concerning the principle of sub judice.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspaper