Anglican Church Power Tussle Deepens as Archbishop Ibezim Drags Primate Ndukuba to Court

By Our Reporter

The leadership crisis rocking the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has taken a fresh turn following reports that the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, has instituted legal proceedings against the Primate, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, and the Dean of the Church of Nigeria over his six-month leave of absence.

The reported legal action comes days after Ndukuba, in a letter dated October 13, 2026, directed Ibezim to proceed on six months’ leave amid investigations into allegations and recent developments within the Diocese of Awka.

The Primate also appointed the Bishop of Aguata Diocese, 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.

According to the account circulating about the latest development, Ibezim is challenging the decision, which he reportedly considers unjust and unfair.

The report further alleges that the archbishop criticised the handling of the matter and accused the church leaders involved of conspiring to remove him from office. The precise wording and context of the alleged statements could not be independently established from the information provided.

The Primate had earlier explained that the six-month leave was an administrative measure intended to facilitate an impartial investigation and restore peace within the diocese, rather than a disciplinary sanction.

The church leadership has not, in the material available for this report, publicly detailed the specific allegations being investigated or disclosed the findings of the visitation team whose report preceded the decision.

The reported court action could introduce a new legal dimension to the dispute over leadership and administrative authority within the Anglican Church in Anambra State.

Further details, including the suit number, court division, reliefs sought and any response from the defendants, were not provided in the report.

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