The Chancellor of the Anglican Diocese of Awka, Mr. B. E. I. Nwofor, SAN, has demanded ₦5 billion in damages from the Bishop of the Diocese of Aguata, the Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, over a letter purporting to remove him from office as Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka.
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Nwofor, in a letter titled “Removal as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion),” gave Bishop Ezeofor one day to withdraw the letter, two days to publish an unqualified public apology and seven days to pay ₦5 billion as damages for what he described as a libellous publication.
“I hereby demand that Your Lordship should withdraw the said offensive letter within one day from the delivery of this letter,” Nwofor stated.
He further demanded that Ezeofor, “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.”
Nwofor also demanded that the Bishop, “within seven days from the delivery of this letter, pay the sum of ₦5,000,000,000 (five billion naira) being damages for the libellous publication.”
He warned that failure to comply with the demands would result in legal action.
“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,” he stated.
The dispute is the latest development arising from the decision of the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, directing the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, to proceed on six months’ leave to allow an investigation into allegations against him.
Following the directive, the Primate appointed Bishop Ezeofor to oversee the Diocese of Awka.
However, the Awka Diocesan Board, headed by Nwofor, rejected the arrangement and urged Ezeofor to concentrate on his duties as Bishop of Aguata, arguing that the governing provisions of the Diocese did not recognise or permit the office of a supervising bishop.
Bishop Ezeofor subsequently announced Nwofor’s immediate removal as Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka.
Nwofor has now challenged the validity of that decision, arguing that Ezeofor could not exercise powers attached to an office which, according to him, is not recognised by the Constitution and Regulations of the Diocese of Awka.
“Your Lordship cannot write any letter in the name of an office which does not exist,” Nwofor stated.
He maintained that the Constitution and Regulations of the Diocese of Awka, 2023, contained clear provisions governing the administration of the Diocese during the absence of its Bishop and had been approved by the Church of Nigeria Standing Committee on September 14, 2023.
According to Nwofor, the office of supervising bishop is neither recognised nor provided for under the Diocese’s governing instrument.
He argued that the relevant provisions empower Archbishop Ibezim and the Chancellor to make arrangements for the administration of the Diocese during the Archbishop’s absence by appointing an administrator who would exercise the same authority and jurisdiction as the Bishop.
Nwofor further contended that even where a Bishop dies or resigns, an appointed administrator would remain in office until the Primate issues an order concerning the administration of the Diocese during the vacancy.
He argued that neither circumstance had arisen in Archbishop Ibezim’s case and, therefore, questioned the basis upon which Ezeofor was appointed to oversee the Diocese.
Nwofor also relied on provisions of the Diocese’s Constitution and Regulations dealing with the tenure of members of its legal team.
According to him, a member of the legal team may cease to hold office only upon 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 those circumstances applied to him.
“My tenure of office is still subsisting and I remain the incumbent Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion),” Nwofor stated.
He further alleged that the contents of Ezeofor’s letter had damaged his professional standing and reputation.
“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 said.
Nwofor also pointed out that Ezeofor’s appointment to oversee the Diocese is already the subject of litigation before the High Court of Anambra State in Suit No. A/371/2026.
He referred to a pending application seeking to set aside the appointment letter. While the present account gives the motion number as A/1795M/2026, court processes earlier examined in connection with the suit identified the motion as A/1759M/2026.
The underlying dispute over Archbishop Ibezim’s leave, the appointment of Bishop Ezeofor and the administration of the Diocese remains before the court. Nwofor’s latest demands concern his purported removal as Chancellor and his claim that the communication announcing it was unlawful and defamatory.
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