David-Chyddy Eleke experiences that the very basis of Christianity is being threatened within the Anglican Church, because the Primate, Henry Ndukuba; Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, Alexander Ibezim; the Diocesan Board and different members are embroiled in conflict.
Things are deteriorating very quick within the Province of the Niger, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Awka Diocese. With the quick flip of occasions, Christianity now not seems like a faith of tolerance and obedience, and the very individuals giving her the tag are its leaders. The Province of the Niger is likely one of the 14 Provinces of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). It was created in 2002. It is made up of 9 dioceses, all inside Anambra State. They embody Awka, Aguata, Amichi, Ihiala, Mbamili, Niger West, Nnewi, Ogbaru Dioceses, and the mom diocese and oldest diocese in Nigeria, Diocese On the Niger (Onitsha).
The particular tag of the Diocese On The Niger as being the oldest in Nigeria provides a glimpse of its significance to the non secular physique in Nigeria. The province is headed by Archbishop Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, who additionally doubles because the Bishop of Awka Diocese. He was ordained Bishop of Awka Diocese in 2010 in circumstances some church members had claimed have been rigged to favour him, and 9 years after, in 2019, we was elected the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger, to supervise the 9 dioceses.
Genesis of Crisis
Early in his administration, each as Bishop and Archbishop, Ibezim had encountered challenges with some individuals expressing unhappiness about his administration of the church, however there was nothing actually concrete to carry onto. But Ibezim’s actual issues appeared in 2025 when a member of the church, Prince Echezona Bonti Onuigbo wrote a petition submitted to the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) via his lawyer, Chief G. Tagbo (SAN) of Ike Ike Associates.
The petition alleged that Archbishop Ibezim approved / facilitated the sale of church-owned lands belonging to Diocese of Awka valued at over N2billion with out the obligatory approval of the Board of Trustees, who’re the authorized custodians of church belongings. The petition additionally complained of what was described as voracious wealth acquisition and shortchanging of allies, and alleged that proceeds have been transformed / some transferred to non-public account. Also, Multiple plots at Ifite, Awka, Amansea, Ngozika Estate, have been put up on the market at tens of thousands and thousands to over N100m every. This prompted the EFCC to open investigation into the matter.
The Archbishop denied all these copiously. There have been rumours in some unspecified time in the future that Ibezim began evading arrest by EFCC, after which one other that he was later arrested, however the clergy man dismissed all these, insisting he was solely invited and since he had nothing to cover, he honoured the invitation, answered some questions and was later launched. Not taking issues flippantly, particularly as his character was at stake, he additionally approached the court docket to clear his identify. Though he had additionally earlier obtained an injunction, on Sept 9, 2025, from Anambra State High Court, restraining EFCC and Bonti Onuigbo from arresting/detaining him. It was renewed by consent on Oct 14, 2025.
Comes the Suspension
As issues bought worse, Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Henry C. Ndukuba, bought into the image and directed Ibezim to proceed on six months’ go away with fast impact amid investigations. Ndukuba, in a letter dated Tuesday, October 13, 2026, additionally introduced the appointment of the Bishop of the Diocese of Aguata, the Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, as Supervising Bishop of the Diocese of Awka and Coordinating Bishop of the Province of the Niger throughout Ibezim’s absence.
The letter, addressed to Ibezim, acknowledged that the choice adopted current developments within the Diocese of Awka, the place the archbishop had been on the centre of assorted allegations and occasions which, based on the Primate, had raised considerations concerning the integrity and repute of the Church of Nigeria.
He defined that the executive measure was supposed to permit a good and thorough investigation into the allegations, whereas creating room for the restoration of peace and reconciliation within the Diocese of Awka. He particularly clarified that the go away didn’t represent a disciplinary sanction, however was an administrative step to facilitate an neutral inquiry into the state of affairs within the diocese.
Ibezim Fights Back
Not keen to surrender his place, and in what appeared like try and clear his identify, Archbishop Ibezim headed to court docket and challenged his suspension. To some others, this moved racked of a significant insubordination to constituted authority, which is likely one of the cardinal message of Christianity.
In Suit No A/371/2026 – The Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim vs The Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba & Most Rev. Blessing Enyindah, filed similar day he was suspended, Oct 13, 2026 at High Court of Anambra State, Awka Judicial Division via his lead counsel, B.E.I Nwofor( SAN) Ibezim requested the court docket to clear him of the allegations, insisting that no due course of underneath church structure was adopted. He contended that no formal cost was ever most well-liked towards him, no presentment served, and no ecclesiastical trial held. Therefore any letter of suspension / obligatory go away / elimination / retirement / dismissal is unconstitutional, extremely vires, null and void.
Ibezim argued within the go well with that part 29(1) chapter V relied upon by the Primate to droop him solely provides normal supervisory powers however doesn’t empower the Primate to compel a sitting Archbishop/Bishop to proceed on six months obligatory go away and appoint one other Bishop to take over.
He relied on part 4, Canon X, which entitles a Bishop to stay in workplace till obligatory retirement age of 70 years, and requested the court docket to affirm that.
Church Board Sides Ibezim
While the forwards and backwards continued, the Diocesan Board of the Church which represents the lay individuals of the diocese has taken facet with its bishop, absolving him of all allegations. In an emergency board assembly presided over by B.E.I Nwofor who’s the Lord Chancellor of the Diocese and in addition doubles because the lead counsel for Ibezim in a communique issued after the assembly reechoed the dearth of powers by the Primate to sack Ibezim.
In the communique made accessible to newsmen after the emergency assembly, which was signed by Lord Chancellor, Diocese of Awka Anglican Communion, Sir B.E.I Nwofor, Synod Secretary, Ven. Ok.E.N Chukwukamma, and Lay Synod Secretary, Mr Eugene Chukwudi Okonkwo, the board stated: “The Board rejects the appointment of His Lordship, Rt. Revd Samuel C. Ezeofor as supervising Bishop of Awka Diocese and Coordinating Bishop of Province of the Niger. 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 War Begins
Not even the reference to the church’s legal guidelines that the Primate had no powers to droop the Bishop might cease Bishop Samuel Ezeofor from instantly assuming his place as Supervising Bishop of Awka Diocese. To him, Ibezim had proceeded on go away as instructed, and he had taken cost.
The first casualty of Ezeofor’s assumption of workplace was the Diocesan Chancellor, Sir B.E.I Nwofor, who was faraway from workplace on Saturday. In a letter, dated Saturday, October 17, 2026, and written on the letterhead of the Diocese of Awka, Ezeofor accused Nwofor of allegedly utilizing his place to undermine the authority of the Primate of the Church of Nigeria and defying lawful directives issued by the church management.
In the letter addressed to Nwofor from Emmanuel Chambers, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Ezeofor declared him unfit to proceed as Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka. The letter, signed by Ezeofor in his capability as Supervising Bishop, accused the senior lawyer of partaking in actions supposed to undermine the authority of the Primate and convey the Church of Nigeria into disrepute. It acknowledged that the alleged conduct was incompatible together with his continued service as Chancellor of a diocese underneath the Church of Nigeria, and necessitated his elimination.
Unrelenting Ibezim Sits Tight
As the drama continued, Archbishop Ibezim just isn’t relenting. He has caught to his place, insisting he’s solely being fought by darkish forces. The clergy man who surprisingly confirmed up on the Cathedral Church of St Faith, Awka throughout final Sunday service stated he was in church to wish for the church and towards the battles towards him. His look on the service was towards the directive of the Primate, who suspended him from all church actions. A defiant Ibezim whereas talking with the congregation stated: “Please, at this time of trial, at this moment, let us recognize that we are not fighting against flesh and blood. It is a spiritual warfare. It is the battle against principalities. Battle, not of flesh and blood, but against principalities. Principalities are spiritual agents, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual weaknesses in high places. So our battle is not the battle of flesh and blood. Bible is enjoining us that we should not fight physically. This is not a time to fight with gun or fight with cutlass; but it is a fight that is spiritual.”
Though Ibezim is combating his conflict with prayers, he isn’t leaving out weapons. This is clear within the variety of safety males that accompanied the revered clergyman to church on that Sunday. He could have observed of plans to shame him out of workplace and didn’t wish to be caught napping. For instance, Bishop Ibezim’s safety on Sunday would go away one considering the place God’s powers to guard his individuals was, particularly because the Bishop all the time preaches to the lay devoted of God’s powers to guard. His safety consisted of typical and unconventional operatives drawn from the Nigeria Police Force and the state vigilante providers, often called Agunechemba.
The Bishop might not be alone within the combat as his youthful brother who’s the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim, was additionally in church with safety males hooked up to his workplace. It was not precisely identified if his presence was to offer assist to his brother or a daily church attendance, however his presence together with his safety and full paraphernalia of workplace gave stronger safety to the cathedral which is thought to be the enclave of Bishop Ibezim.
Where the People Stand
Though the church at present stands very polarized, a bigger chunk of members of the church spoken to by this reporter have dismissed Bishop Ibezims declare of innocence, whereas some insist that one of the best ways to clear his identify was to step apart for six months and permit an neutral investigation into the matter.
A member of the church, Mr Tony Okafor in his admonition to the Bishop stated: “This is deeply regarding to many who consider that the Church ought to stay a beacon of peace, humility, self-discipline, and reconciliation. At this essential juncture, I respectfully urge you (Ibezim) to permit the sleeping canine to lie. As a father within the religion and a senior priest in God’s winery, you’ve gotten a accountability not solely to defend your place but in addition to protect the unity, dignity, and progress of the Church. No private disagreement, nevertheless critical, must be permitted to overshadow the religious mission of the establishment all of us cherish.
“Your Grace, leadership also entails teaching younger clergy how to respect constituted authority, obey lawful directives, and pursue disagreements through established ecclesiastical channels. The Church cannot effectively preach obedience, humility, and submission if its leaders appear unwilling to model these virtues when tested by difficult circumstances. Equally important, an investigation is not a declaration of guilt. It is a process for establishing facts, examining allegations, and arriving at an informed conclusion. The presumption of innocence must be respected, but so must legitimate investigative processes. Allowing an impartial investigation to proceed should not be interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing; rather, it can demonstrate confidence in the truth and commitment to institutional accountability. You have an opportunity to demonstrate such statesmanship by stepping back from confrontation, allowing due process to prevail, and creating room for genuine reconciliation.”
