Awka Diocese Chancellor Challenges Bishop’s Authority to Remove Him
The leadership crisis rocking the Awka Diocese of the Anglican Communion has intensified, with the diocesan Chancellor, B. E. Nwofor (SAN), demanding N5bn in damages from the Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, over his alleged removal from office. The dispute followed a directive by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, asking the Awka diocesan bishop to proceed on six months’ leave to allow an investigation into allegations against him and subsequently appointing Ezeofor as administrator of the diocese. However, the Awka Diocesan Board, headed by Nwofor, rejected the arrangement, arguing that the office of a supervising bishop was not recognised under the diocese’s Constitution and Regulations, 2023. Ezeofor subsequently announced Nwofor’s immediate removal as chancellor, prompting the senior advocate to challenge his authority and demand the withdrawal of the letter, a public apology and N5bn in damages over what he described as a libellous publication.
In a letter titled “Removal as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion),” Nwofor gave Ezeofor one day to withdraw the letter, two days to publish a public apology with similar publicity, and seven days to pay the demanded damages, warning that he would institute legal proceedings if the demands were not met. He said Ezeofor’s appointment as administrator was being challenged before the Anambra State High Court in Suit No. A/371/2026, alongside a pending motion, No. A/1795m/2026, seeking to set aside the appointment letter. Nwofor maintained that none of the circumstances specified in the diocese’s governing provisions for terminating his tenure applied to him and insisted that he remained the incumbent chancellor. He further argued that the diocese’s constitution provided for arrangements to administer the diocese during the bishop’s absence and disputed the basis for the Primate’s intervention, saying neither death nor resignation had occurred to justify the relevant order.
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