The Diocesan Board of the Diocese of Awka, Anglican Communion, has rejected the directive by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, ordering the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, to proceed on six months’ compulsory leave.
The board also rejected the appointment of the Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, as Supervising Bishop of Awka Diocese and Coordinating Bishop of the Province of the Niger, warning that it could withdraw from the Church of Nigeria if the decisions were not reversed.
The resolutions 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, Anglican Village, Ifite-Awka.
The communiqué, made available to journalists on Sunday, was signed by the Diocese’s Lord Chancellor, Sir B.E.I. Nwofor, SAN; Synod Secretary, Ven. K.E.N. Chukwukamma; and Lay Synod Secretary, Eugene Okonkwo.
Ndukuba had issued the directive in a letter dated October 13, 2026, following investigations into allegations of “misuse and misappropriation of funds, crisis as well as recent developments” in the diocese.
He also appointed Ezeofor to oversee the diocese and coordinate the province during Ibezim’s absence.
However, the Awka Diocesan Board said it rejected the Primate’s letter in its entirety.
“The Board emphatically rejects in its entirety the said letter. More specifically, the Board rejects the directive to His Grace, The Most Revd Alexander Ibezim, Archbishop, Province of the Niger and Bishop, Diocese of Awka, to proceed on six months’ compulsory leave,” the communiqué stated.
The board also opposed Ezeofor’s appointment, citing three pending cases before the Anambra State High Court involving Ibezim, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Inspector-General of Police and Ndukuba.
The suits listed were No. A/Misc. 446/2025, involving Ibezim and the EFCC; No. A/Misc. 494/2026, involving Ibezim, the Inspector-General of Police and others; and No. A/371/2026, involving Ibezim, Ndukuba and another party.
According to the board, the cases remain pending and all parties should avoid actions that could interfere with their determination.
The communiqué stated that the appointment was made “in disregard of pending litigation” and stressed that the parties involved were “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 board also challenged Ndukuba’s reliance on Section 29(1) of the Constitution and Canons of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 2020, arguing that the provision did not empower the Primate to compel another bishop to proceed on leave and transfer his duties to another cleric.
It further alleged that the decision violated Ibezim’s constitutional rights, citing Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which provides for the presumption of innocence, and Section 38(1), which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Describing the decisions as “draconian, oppressive, vindictive and grossly unjust,” the board argued that Ibezim should not be barred from participating in church activities while the related legal matters remained unresolved.
The board warned that it would withdraw from the Church of Nigeria if the dispute continued.
“The Board emphatically states that if the Primate and Bishop Ezeofor continue threatening the peace of Awka Diocese and its Archbishop and bishop, and unlawfully interfere with its affairs, it shall withdraw from the Church of Nigeria and continue with the Church of England, which never disturbed the Diocese,” the communiqué read.
The dispute follows Ndukuba’s directive placing Ibezim on compulsory leave and appointing Ezeofor to oversee his responsibilities, decisions the Awka Diocesan Board has called on the Primate to reverse.