Church of Nigeria Faces Possible Awka Diocese Exit Amid Leadership Row

The Diocese of Awka of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has threatened to withdraw from the national church and continue its affiliation with the Church of England unless the Primate, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, reverses his decision to place Archbishop Alexander Ibezim on six months’ compulsory leave.

The threat, announced in a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting of the diocesan board on Friday, October 16, deepens the dispute over Ibezim’s leadership and the appointment of Bishop Samuel Ezeofor to oversee the diocese and coordinate the Province of the Niger during his absence. The board rejected both decisions and directed diocesan organs to remain loyal to Ibezim rather than recognise Ezeofor’s authority.

Ndukuba’s directive, contained in a letter dated October 13, followed reports from administrative panels examining developments in the diocese, including a visitation team led by the Dean of the Church of Nigeria. The Primate said the leave was intended to allow a thorough and impartial inquiry, restore peace and promote reconciliation. He described it as an administrative measure rather than a disciplinary sanction and directed Ibezim to hand over his responsibilities and refrain from officiating at church activities during the period.

The Awka board disputes the Primate’s authority to impose the leave and appoint a replacement, arguing that the decisions were taken while related cases remained before the Anambra State High Court. It cited three suits involving Ibezim, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Inspector-General of Police and Ndukuba, among other parties. The board maintains that the church’s governing documents do not empower the Primate to compel a serving bishop to take leave in the manner ordered. These are the board’s legal arguments, and the available reports do not indicate that a court has ruled on the dispute.

The disagreement has also brought allegations concerning the diocese’s finances and land dealings into public view. The Primate’s letter referred to concerns about the use and possible misappropriation of funds, a crisis within the diocese and other recent developments. Separate media reports have linked the dispute to allegations surrounding the sale of church land. Ibezim has challenged the action in court, while the diocesan board says the investigative panels did not indict him for financial misconduct. The allegations have not been established as proven wrongdoing in the sources reviewed.

The crisis escalated further after Ezeofor reportedly removed the diocese’s Lord Chancellor, Sir B.E.I. Nwofor, from office with immediate effect in a letter dated October 17. Nwofor had signed the communiqué rejecting the Primate’s directive and Ezeofor’s appointment. According to Anglican Ink, Ezeofor accused him of using his office to undermine church authority and instructed him to hand over diocesan documents and property. The move underscores the competing claims over who has authority to direct the diocese while the leave order is being challenged.

The diocesan board has maintained that Ibezim remains the substantive bishop of Awka and Archbishop of the Province of the Niger. It has also warned that it could seek legal and law-enforcement intervention if Ezeofor’s authority is imposed on the diocese. Its statement, however, threatens a possible withdrawal rather than announcing that Awka has already left the Church of Nigeria.

The dispute now involves more than the status of one bishop: it has become a contest over church governance, the interpretation of internal rules and control of diocesan administration. With the Primate’s directive still opposed by the Awka board, Ezeofor asserting his supervisory role and litigation pending, the immediate challenge for the church is resolving the competing claims without a wider rupture in its structure. Any eventual separation would mark a significant institutional development for the diocese, but no withdrawal has been confirmed.