Awka Diocese Rejects Bishop Ibezim’s Suspension, Threatens Exit from Church of Nigeria

The Diocese of Awka, part of the Church of Nigeria in the Anglican Communion, held an emergency meeting on 16 October that saw its board reject the six‑month suspension imposed on Bishop Alexander Ibezim by the primate, Henry Ndukuba. The suspension, announced last week, was said by the primate to allow a transparent investigation into a range of allegations, including the sale of church land for N2 billion.

In the same meeting, the board also rejected the appointment of Rt Revd Samuel C. Ezeofor as supervising bishop of Awka and coordinating bishop of the Niger Province. The decision was presented in a communique signed by the diocese’s Lord Chancellor, B.E.I. Nwofor, Synod Secretary K.E.N. Chukwukamma and Lay Synod Secretary Eugene Okonkwo.

The communique stated that the board would not accept the directive for Ibezim’s compulsory leave and that it would refrain from interfering with ongoing court proceedings until a judicial determination is made. It also warned that if the primate and the appointed supervising bishop continued to act in what it described as an unlawful interference with diocesan affairs, the diocese would withdraw from the Church of Nigeria and re‑join the Church of England.

Ibezim has already taken legal action against the primate, filing a lawsuit that challenges the suspension and the allegations that led to it. The case is still pending in court.

The dispute has deepened a broader tension within the Church of Nigeria, which has historically been part of the Anglican Communion but has at times distanced itself from the Church of England, most notably when it rejected the appointment of Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Awka Diocese’s decision marks a rare public challenge to the authority of the primate and signals a potential realignment within the Nigerian church structure. The outcome of the legal proceedings and the response of the Church of Nigeria’s leadership will determine whether the diocese’s threat to leave the national church becomes a reality.

The situation remains fluid, with both sides awaiting the court’s ruling. The diocese’s board has emphasised that it remains committed to maintaining peace within its jurisdiction while it seeks a resolution that respects the rule of law and the governance structures of the Church of Nigeria.

Key Points - Bishop Alexander Ibezim suspended for six months over allegations, including a N2 billion land sale. - Awka Diocese board rejects suspension and the appointment of supervising bishop. - Board threatens to leave Church of Nigeria and re‑join Church of England if decisions persist. - Ibezim has sued the primate; case still pending. - The dispute reflects wider tensions within the Anglican Communion in Nigeria.