The crisis rocking the Awka Diocese of the Anglican Communion has deepened, with the diocesan Chancellor, B. E. Nwofor (SAN), demanding ₦5 billion in damages from the Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, over his alleged removal from office.
The dispute followed the suspension of Archbishop Alexander Ibezim by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, who directed him to proceed on a six-month leave to allow an investigation into allegations against him.
Following the suspension, Ndukuba appointed Ezeofor as administrator of the Awka Diocese.
However, the Awka Diocesan Board, headed by Nwofor, rejected the arrangement, urging Ezeofor to focus on his responsibilities as Bishop of Aguata Diocese. The board argued that the church’s governing provisions did not recognise the office of a supervising bishop.
In response, Ezeofor announced Nwofor’s immediate removal as Chancellor of the Awka Diocese, a move that has now triggered a legal threat from the senior advocate.
In a strongly worded letter titled “Removal as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion),” Nwofor challenged Ezeofor’s authority to remove him, demanding the withdrawal of the letter, a public apology and ₦5 billion in damages over what he described as a libellous publication.
Nwofor Issues Deadlines, Threatens Legal Action
In the letter, Nwofor gave Ezeofor specific deadlines to meet his demands, warning that failure to comply would result in legal action.
He wrote:
“I hereby demand that Your Lordship should withdraw the said offensive letter within one day from the delivery of this letter.
“Your Lordship should, within two days from the date of delivery of this letter, publish an unqualified written public apology to me for the said offensive publication and give such publication the same widespread publicity in the print, electronic and online media.
“Your Lordship should, within seven days from the delivery of this letter, pay the sum of ₦5,000,000,000 (five billion naira) being damage for the ‘libellous’ publication.
“Take notice that if you fail, refuse or neglect to comply with these demands, I will institute an action in court against Your Lordship to obtain redress. Your Lordship is not above the law.”
Nwofor Challenges Ezeofor’s Authority
The senior advocate argued that the office of a supervising bishop did not exist in the Awka Diocese, insisting that the position was neither recognised nor provided for under the Diocese’s Constitution and Regulations, 2023.
He maintained that the document contained clear provisions for administering the diocese in the absence of its bishop.
“Your Lordship cannot write any letter in the name of an office which does not exist. The Constitution and Regulations of the Diocese of Awka, 2023, has ample, clear, and unambiguous provisions on the administration of the Diocese during the absence of the Bishop, which was approved by the Church of Nigeria Standing Committee on 14th September, 2023,” Nwofor stated.
He further disclosed that Ezeofor’s appointment as administrator was being challenged before the Anambra State High Court in Suit No. A/371/2026.
Nwofor also cited a pending motion, No. A/1795m/2026, seeking to set aside the appointment letter.
According to him, the statements contained in Ezeofor’s letter had damaged his reputation and exposed him to public ridicule.
“By the offensive and false words contained in Your Lordship’s letter, Your Lordship has deliberately done damage to my credit and reputation and I have been exposed to scandal, odium and contempt,” he alleged.
Chancellor Insists His Tenure Remains Valid
Citing the Diocese’s Constitution and Regulations, Nwofor argued that a member of the legal team could cease to hold office only under specified circumstances.
These include death, resignation, loss of the office by virtue of which the person was appointed, bankruptcy, a declaration of insanity by a competent authority, or conviction for a criminal offence involving moral turpitude or another offence under Canon XV of the Canons of the Church of Nigeria.
He maintained that none of the conditions applied to him and insisted that his tenure as Chancellor remained valid.
“My tenure of office is still subsisting and I remain the incumbent Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion),” he stated.
Nwofor Cites Provisions For Administration Of Diocese
The diocesan Chancellor further argued that the governing provisions empowered Archbishop Ibezim and the Chancellor to make arrangements for the administration of the diocese during the archbishop’s absence.
According to Nwofor, the provisions allow them to appoint an administrator with the same authority and jurisdiction as the bishop.
He added that even in the event of a bishop’s death or resignation, an appointed administrator would retain his authority until the Primate issued an order for the administration of the diocese during the vacancy.
Nwofor maintained that neither death nor resignation had occurred in Ibezim’s case to justify such an order by the Primate.
The dispute now centres on the competing interpretations of the diocese’s governing provisions, Ezeofor’s appointment as administrator and the validity of Nwofor’s purported removal as Chancellor.
The legal challenge concerning the appointment is reportedly pending before the Anambra State High Court, while Nwofor has threatened further legal action over the letter announcing his removal.
