- Archbishop, members trade blame
The Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion) in Anambra State is embroiled in a controversy over land sales, with the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger, His Grace Rev Alexander Chibuzor Ibezim, in the eye of the storm.
The Archbishop has been accused of selling the church land without following the provisions of the Diocesan constitution, while the Archbishop said the allegations are false and attempt to tarnish his image.
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Sources revealed that the Primate of the Anglican Communion has set up a panel to investigate the allegations, with a view to establishing the truth.
The controversy has led to the sacking of the Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka, Hon Justice O. J. Okeke (retd), by Bishop Ibezim, which has further agitated church members.
The letter terminating the appointment of Justice Okeke as Chancellor said: “Your appointment as the chancellor of the Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion) is hereby terminated with effect from August 21, 2025.
“Thank you immensely for the past services you rendered to the Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion) as Chancellor and Legal Officer.
“Please hand over all documents and properties of the Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion) in your possession to the Clerical Synod Secretary of the Diocese.”
A member of the church, however, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the matter, alleging land stripping.
In a letter to EFCC, Chief G. Tagbo, SAN, of Ike Ike Associates, on behalf of Chief Echezona Bonti Onuigbo and dated July 28, 2025, stated that the sale of the Diocese land by the Bishop did not follow the stipulated process, alleging that it has “led to massive loss of revenue to the Church, with resultant effect leading to massive job losses and budgetary cuts which will adversely affect the running of the church, the economic well-being of members and staff of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.”
The letter alleged that “Chapter XIV, Section 56 of the Constitution and Canons of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion),1997 (as amended) vests all the assets and properties of the church on the Registered Trustees of the Church.
“Notwithstanding the clear provision of Chapter XIV, Section 56 supra, the said Rev. Ibezim has single-handedly been selling the lands of the Church, in total disregard of the Constitution and Cannons of the church.”
The complaint alleged that Diocesan officials, like the Chancellor, Hon (Justice) O.J. Okeke (rid), and Diocesan Secretary, Barr. Chris Adimora pointed out the errors in the sale of land, but was rebuffed.
The petition listed alleged church property sold to different people without due process as: eight plots of land at Ifite, Awka, behind the Diocesan Shopping Mall; Two plots of land at Amansea; two plots of land at Ngozika Estate, Awka; two (2) plots of land at Ngozika Estate, Awka; two plots of land at Ngozika Estate, Awka; two plots of land at Ngozika Estate, Awka; and two (2) plots of land at Ngozika Estate, Awka.
Others are one plot of land at Ngozika Estate, Awka; one plot of land at Ngozika Estate, Awka; one plot of land at Ngozika Estate; one plot of land at Ngozika Estate, Awka, and one plot of land at Ngozika Estate, Awka.
Following the sacking of the Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka by the Archbishop, Chancellor of the Province of Niger, Justice Pete Obiorah, resigned his position.
In his resignation letter, which he said was in solidarity with the sacked Chancellor and Registrar of the Diocese of Awka, Justice Obiorah said: “I have been recently informed about the ugly development in the Diocese of Awka with respect to the alleged sale of an unimaginable quantity of lands belonging to the Diocese.
“In shock, and knowing the oath I voluntarily subscribed to under God and before His people to assume the office of a Chancellor, I felt scandalised and pained as a child of our Church notwithstanding the fact that I am not a member of the Diocese of Awka.
“The sacred oath I freely took and the office I occupy made it absolutely necessary that I will speak wherever and in whatever circumstances I notice any wrongdoing, lest I place myself under God’s wrath.
“The story looked like a fable to me. Hence, I sought clarification from my brothers, Chancellor and Registrar, because I know that no valid transaction regarding either purchase or sale of Church investment/property that the Chancellor, being a Trustee, will not sign.
“I received documentary evidence of the heavy allegations, which the Registrar of the Diocese personally signed and addressed to his Bishop and Archbishop of the Province. I won’t disclose the contents of the letter here (though attached). It is putrid, filthy, scandalous, odious, and everything evil against the Church.
“I felt the Diocese will quietly handle this unbelievable and unfortunate development to save the Church from unnecessary scandal.
“When a meeting of the Diocesan Board was called on 18th August, 2025, I was optimistic that positive result would be the outcome but what happened was an obvious and orchestrated plan to intimidate, insult and bully the Chancellor, a highly respected and retired Judge of the Federal High Court.
“Rather than seek the truth, in humility, and find a solution to this sad development, another meeting of the Diocesan board was fixed yesterday 21st August, 2025, ostensibly for “Reconciliation” but what came out of it was the issuance of letters personally signed by the Archbishop sacking the Chancellor and Registrar from their offices respectively.
“Am I saying that the Archbishop or any Bishop has no right to sack the Chancellor or the entire Legal Team of the Diocese? Absolutely, no. The power to hire and sack the members of the Legal Team is at the absolute discretion of the Bishop. But not everything that is right is expedient. Wisdom is profitable to direct. The circumstances of this sack are shameful.
“I have taken a personal decision to reconsider my position as a Chancellor in the Province with a view to resignation as I cannot in good conscience remain under the Provincial leadership and spiritual authority of a person accused of alleged illegal and serious breach of the Constitution and Canons of the Church.
“This is also in clear solidarity with my brother Chancellor for this act of humiliation for the simple fact that he stood, as a true soldier of Christ, against the alleged sale of vast estates of the Diocese acquired before the current Episcopacy..
“Wisdom demands that the letter sacking the Hon. Chancellor and Registrar be withdrawn as that action will open more wounds, since those affected persons are bound to fight for their reputation and integrity.”
Reacting to allegations against the Archbishop, on behalf of the Diocese of Awka, in a press statement, Ven Prince Chuma Oranye (admin assistant) and Ven Clement C. Mgbemena (Clerical Synod Secretary) said the allegations were “false, misleading and deliberately intended to tarnish the Archbishop’s reputation and destabilize the Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion).”
The press statement said: “It is not true that His Grace sold church lands single-handedly. The constitution of the Diocese clearly provides that the Incorporated Trustees of the Diocese, comprising the Bishop, the Chancellor and the Clerical Synod Secretary, must sign all land documents. No land was ever sold without due process and legal documentation.
“Further more, every land transaction approved by the Diocesan Board was based on the advise of the Diocesan Investment Committee and the Land Committee, following threats of land encroachment by grabbers. Proceeds were invested transparently into the monumental projects that today stand as verifiable proof of responsive leadership.”
The press release said, on allegation of land sales: “The Archbishop cannot and does not unilateral determine land sales. All decisions pass through the Diocesan Land Committee of which the Registrar is chairman. Claims of ‘ongoing land stripping’ are malicious fabrications. “
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