The Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of the Diocese of Awka, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, has approached the Anambra State High Court to challenge the procedures adopted by the leadership of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) in investigating allegations involving him and the diocese.
Ibezim instituted the suit against the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, and the Dean of the Church, Most Rev. Blessing Enyindah, challenging the constitution of a visitation team and the procedures for disciplinary proceedings against a serving bishop.
The legal action comes days after Ndukuba directed Ibezim to proceed on six months’ compulsory leave with immediate effect following investigations into allegations and recent developments in the Diocese of Awka.
In a letter dated October 13, 2026, Ndukuba also announced the appointment of the Bishop of the Diocese of Aguata, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, as Supervising Bishop of the Diocese of Awka and Coordinating Bishop of the Province of the Niger during Ibezim’s absence.
However, in the originating summons filed on October 13 at the Awka Judicial Division of the Anambra State High Court, Ibezim is seeking an interpretation of provisions of the Church’s 2020 Constitution and Canons governing disciplinary proceedings against serving bishops.
The suit, marked A/371/2026, names Ndukuba as the first defendant and Enyindah as the second defendant. Enyindah is also identified in the court document as chairman of the visitation team constituted by the Primate.
Ibezim is asking the court to declare that the procedures stipulated in the Church’s Constitution and Canons must be followed before disciplinary measures are imposed on a serving bishop.
One of the reliefs sought reads, “A declaration that the laid down procedure for disciplining a serving Bishop of a Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) are spelt out in sections 55, 75(1)(2)(3)(4)(5), 76(1)(2)(3)(4)(5) and Canon XVI sections 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28 of the Constitution and Canons of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), 2020.”
The plaintiff is also seeking a declaration that the procedures must be strictly followed before any disciplinary measure or sanction, including suspension or removal from office, can be imposed on him as the incumbent Bishop of the Diocese of Awka and Archbishop of the Province of the Niger.
Another relief sought by Ibezim states, “A declaration that at least one of the ten offences specifically listed or mentioned in section 1 of CANON XVI for which a Primate, a Provincial Archbishop, a Bishop, a Priest, or a Deacon in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) can be tried, must be proved before any form of disciplinary measure or sanction is imposed on the Plaintiff.”
The archbishop is further asking the court to interpret several provisions of the Church’s Constitution and Canons, including those relating to the responsibilities, powers and disciplinary procedures applicable to church officials.
The originating summons describes the visitation team constituted by the Primate in a letter dated June 17, 2026, as having been “illegally constituted”. This is Ibezim’s claim in the suit and has not been established by a court.
The suit was instituted through his lead counsel, B.E.I. Nwofor (SAN).
The Primate had explained that the six-month leave was an administrative measure intended to facilitate an impartial investigation and restore peace within the Diocese of Awka.
