The Diocese of Awka, Anglican Communion, has rejected the suspension of its bishop, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, from official duties for six months, warning that it may withdraw from the Church of Nigeria if the decision and the appointment of a replacement are not reversed.
The position was contained in a communiqué issued by the Diocesan Board following an emergency meeting held on Friday, October 16, 2026, at the Chapel of Divine Favour, Anglican Village, Ifite-Awka.
The communiqué, released to journalists on Sunday, was signed by the Lord Chancellor of the Diocese, Sir B.E.I. Nwofor, SAN; Synod Secretary, Ven. K.E.N. Chukwukamma; and Lay Synod Secretary, Mr Eugene Okonkwo.
The dispute followed a directive issued by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, ordering Ibezim, who is also Archbishop of the Province of the Niger, to proceed on six months’ compulsory leave with immediate effect.
Ndukuba reportedly took the decision after investigations into allegations of “misuse and misappropriation of funds, crisis as well as recent developments” in the Diocese of Awka.
In a letter dated October 13, 2026, the Primate also appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Aguata, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, as Supervising Bishop of Awka Diocese and Coordinating Bishop of the Province of the Niger during Ibezim’s absence.
However, the Awka Diocesan Board rejected both decisions, arguing that the directive was unjustified and that the appointment was made while related legal proceedings remained pending before the Anambra State High Court.
In its communiqué, the board maintained that the Primate’s directive should not stand, particularly in view of three court cases involving Ibezim, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Inspector-General of Police, Ndukuba and other parties.
The cases cited were Suit No. A/Misc. 446/2025, involving Ibezim and the EFCC; Suit No. A/Misc. 494/2026, involving Ibezim, the Inspector-General of Police and others; and Suit No. A/371/2026, involving Ibezim, Ndukuba and another party.
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The communiqué read in part, “At the emergency Diocesan Board meeting of Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion) on October 16, 2026, the following resolutions and decisions were reached after exhaustive deliberations on the letter dated 13th October, 2026 by His Grace, The Most Revd Henry C. Ndukuba, Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria:
“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 Board rejects the appointment of His Lordship Rt. Revd Samuel Ezeofor as supervising Bishop of Awka Diocese and Coordinating Bishop of Province of the Niger because of the following reasons:
“The appointment was made in disregard of pending litigation in Suit No. A/Misc 446/2025: The Most Revd Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim VS Economic and Financial Crimes Commission filed on 4th September, 2025; Suit No. A/Misc. 494/2026: The Most Revd Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim VS Inspector General of Police and others, filed on 2nd October, 2026 and Suit No. A/371/2026 – The Most Revd Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim VS The Most Revd Henry Ndukuba and Anor, filed on 13th October, 2026.”
The board argued that the pending cases required all parties to avoid actions that could interfere with the issues before the court.
It stated that “these suits are still pending for determination by the High Court of Anambra State and the subject matters of these suits are the various allegations made against His Grace, The Most Revd Alexander Ibezim, His Grace, The Most Revd Henry Ndukuba, Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, His Lordship Rt. Revd Samuel 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 diocese also questioned the legal basis for the compulsory leave, challenging the Primate’s reliance on Section 29(1) of the Constitution and Canons of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 2020.
According to the board, the provision did not grant the Primate the authority to compel another bishop or archbishop to take leave, transfer his responsibilities to another bishop or bar him from participating in church activities.
The communiqué stated: “Section 29(1) of the Constitution and Canons of the 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 hand over 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 violate section 36 (5) of 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,” among others.
The board’s position rests on its interpretation of the church’s governing provisions and the constitutional protections it cited. The allegations and legal questions surrounding the dispute remain matters for the appropriate judicial and church authorities to address.
The disagreement has escalated beyond the rejection of the disciplinary measure, with the Awka diocese threatening to sever its ties with the Church of Nigeria if the Primate and Ezeofor continue with actions it considers interference in its affairs.
The board said it was prepared to pursue an alternative ecclesiastical arrangement if its objections were not addressed.
“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 statement concluded.
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