By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
Leaders of the Awka Diocese of the Anglican Church have dragged Bishop Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged unauthorized sale of lands belonging to the church valued at over N2billion.
Rev Ibezim is the incumbent Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese of Anambra State.
The Bishop had been enmeshed in some alleged activities such as selling the landed properties of the church and has been having a running battle with some leaders in the church .
This has also pitched him against the Chancellor and other leaders who are now bent on exposing the controversial cleric.
It has also triggered a cold war between the Bishop and the Church Registrar, Barrister Chris Adimora, who is now insisting that he should be given a piece of the cake in the name of being paid 10 percent commission of the land sales, amounting to the sum of seventy million naira.
Barrister Adimora had in a letter on the 9th April, 2025, addressed to the Bishop, demanded to be paid his 10 percent commission, but his demands fell on deaf ears.
The letter, which the disgruntled Secretary, wrote to him is part of what has formed the petition to the EFCC.
In the petition to the EFCC by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief G. Tagbo, who sent the petition on behalf of Prince Echezona Onuigbo of St. Faith Cathedral, Awka, Anambra State, he said Bishop Ibezim has no right or powers to sell any property belonging to the church as it is the Church’s Board of Trustees (BoT) that are curators of the church’s properties.
The land sale scandal is reported to have blown open over the reluctance of Bishop Ibezim to pay the Church Registrar, Barrister Chris Adimora, 10 percent commission of the land sales, amounting to the sum of N70 million.
Barrister Adimora had in a letter on the 9th April, 2025, addressed to the Bishop demanded to be paid his 10 percent commission, but his demands fell on deaf ears.
The letter which the disgruntled Secretary wrote to him is part of what has formed the petition to the EFCC.
Chief G. Tagbo, in the petition to the EFCC, outlined Bishop Ibezim’s alleged infractions entitled “complaint of massive criminal stripping and stealing of assets of Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion Awka Diocese by Archbishop, His Grace Rev. Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim with looming consequence of retrenchment of hundreds of staff of Diocese of Awka Church of Nigeria”
In the petition dated 28 July, 2025 to the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Senior Advocate, Chief Tagbo wrote “we act for and on the instructions of Prince Echezona Onuigbo of St. Faith Cathedral, Awka, Anambra State (hereinafter referred to as “our client”). It is our instruction to lodge this complaint of economic crime to you”
According to the petitioners, the Bishop’s “actions have led to massive loss of revenue to the Church, with resultant effect leading to massive job losses and budgetary cuts which will adversely affect the running of the church, the economic well-being of members and staff of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.”
He argued that “Chapter XIV, Section 56 of the Constitution and Canons of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion),1997 (as amended) vests all the assets and properties of the church on the Registered Trustees of the Church”
According to him “Notwithstanding the clear provision of Chapter XIV, Section 56 supra, the said Rev. Ibezim has single-handedly been selling the lands of the Church, in total disregard to the Constitution and Cannons of the church. The copy of the Constitution is herein attached and marked ANNEXURE “A” “
“During the tenure of the Bishop’s predecessor His grace, Rev. Maxwell Anikwenwa,(now late), acquired enormous landed properties for the church at diverse locations within the territorial limits of the church, to the adulation of the church members and enrichment of the economy of the church.
“However, no sooner had Rev. Ibezim took over the mantle of leadership of the church, he began a systematic stripping of the land assets of the church to the chagrin and consternation of Diocesan Officials, like the Chancellor, Hon(Justice) O.J. Okeke (rid), and Diocesan Secretary, Barr. Chris Adimora. Attempts by the duo to caution him to desist from his machinations were rebuffed by the suspect”
“At the last count, the Bishop had taken seven hundred and fifty-two million naira (N752,000,000.00) being proceeds of sale of landed properties of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) of Diocese of Awka, and converted same to his personal accounts. As at date, the value of the stripped properties of the church has tripled, thus bringing the loots in excess of two billion naira (N2,000,000,000.00).
“A break-down of the converted and stolen properties, and the value as at date of disposal include eight(8) plots of land at Ifite, Awka behind the Diocesan Shopping Mall, which was sold to one Prince Emeka Onyido. – 80,000,000.00 ; Two(2) plots of land at Amansea – 28,000,000.00; Two(2) Plots of land at Ngozika Estate, Awka sold to Chisco Nigeria Ltd at 140,000,000.00 ; Two(2) plots of land at Ngozika Estate, Awka sold to an Nri Man at 42,000,000.00; Two(2) plots of land at Ngozika Estate, Awka sold to lgwe Onyido at 46,000,000.00; Two(2) plots of land at Ngozika Estate, Awka sold to Prof. Emenike Obi at 70,000,000.00; Two(2) plots of land at Ngozika Estate, Awka sold to Uju of Fidelity Bank Pic – 110,000,000.00 8; One(1) plot of land at Ngozika Estate, Awka sold to Dr. Ben Okoye at 35,000,000.00; One(1) plot of land at Ngozika Estate, Awka sold to Tony Muobike for 55,000,000.00. ; One(1) plot of land at Ngozika : Estate, Awka sold to Mr. Victor Agumadu at the cost of 55,000,000.00; One(1) plot of land at Ngozika Estate, Awka sold to a Lady at 36,000,000.00 and One(1) plot of land at Ngozika Estate, Awka sold to Hon. Anayo Okpaleke at 55,000,000.00.”
