Suspended archbishop sues Anglican Church’s primate

The suspended Anglican Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of the Diocese of Awka in Anambra State, Alexander Ibezim, has sued the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Henry C. Ndukuba, over his suspension and plan to subject him to disciplinary proceedings.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Mr Ndukuba suspended the archbishop for six months over various allegations, including the sale of church land for N2 billion.

The suspension, according to the primate, was to allow for transparent investigations into allegations against the archbishop and the diocese.

Mr Ndukuba also announced the appointment of the Bishop of the Diocese of Aguata, Samuel Ezeofor,

as the supervising bishop of the church’s Diocese of Awka and coordinating bishop of the Province of the Niger.

The lawsuit

Mr Ibezim filed the suit at the High Court of Anambra State, Awka Judicial Division on 13 October, according to a court document obtained by PREMIUM TIMES.

The suspended archbishop filed the suit through his legal team led by B.E.I. Nwofor, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

A review of the court document showed the suit was filed on the same day the primate suspended the archbishop.

Mr Ndukuba was listed as the first defendant in the suit, while the Dean of the Church of Nigeria, Blessing Enyindah, is the second defendant.

PREMIUM TIMES recalls Mr Enyindah chaired a visitation team to the Diocese of Awka during the probe of the archbishop’s activities.

In an originating summons, Mr Ibezim is seeking the interpretation of relevant provisions of the 2020 Constitution and Canons of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) governing disciplinary proceedings against serving diocesan bishops.

The suspended archbishop told the court that the visitation team was “illegally constituted” by the primate in a letter dated 17 June 2026.

The suspended archbishop asked the court to determine the procedure for disciplining a serving diocesan bishop and the extent to which the church’s governing laws must be observed before any sanction can be imposed.

He prayed the court for a declaration that the procedure for disciplining a serving diocesan bishop is provided for under sections 55 and 75 to 76 of the church’s 2020 Constitution, as well as sections 22 to 28 of Canon XVI.

Mr Ibezim wants the court to affirm that the prescribed procedure must be strictly followed before any disciplinary measure, including suspension or removal from office as Bishop of Awka and Archbishop of the Province of the Niger, can be imposed on him.

The cleric also appealed to the court to declare that at least one of the 10 offences listed under section 1 of Canon XVI must be established before disciplinary action can lawfully be taken against him.

The provisions outline offences for which senior clerics, including the primate, archbishops, bishops, priests and deacons, may be tried under the church’s disciplinary framework.

Mr Ibezim further prayed the court to determine the proper interpretation and application of several constitutional and canonical provisions governing the duties, powers and responsibilities of various offices within the Church of Nigeria.

The cleric cited various provisions of the Canons to include Cannon V, VI, VII, IX, XII, XIV, XV, XVI and XVII, as basis for his lawsuit which presented a range of legal questions that he wants the court to resolve.

Mr Ibezim also prayed the court to issue an interlocutory injunction to restrain the church leaders from suspending, removing, retiring, or dismissing him from his ecclesiastical offices until the determination of the substantive suit.

The defendants, whose address was listed as St Matthias House, Plot 942, Ibrahim Waziri Crescent, Gudu District, Apo, Abuja, have 42 days from the date of service of the originating summons to enter an appearance.