“Suspension”: Archbishop Ibezim drags Primate Ndukuba to court, Church of Nigeria

The archbishop of the province of Niger and bishop of the diocese of Awka, Anglican communion, Msgr. Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, has approached the Anambra State High Court to challenge the Church of Nigeria’s decision to place him on compulsory six-month leave.

Ibezim has filed a lawsuit against the Primate of All Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry C. Ndukuba, and the Dean of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Blessing Enyindah, amid an ongoing disciplinary process involving the cleric and the diocese of Awka.

According to a report by Ichie Times, the Archbishop filed a writ on October 13, 2026 at the High Court of Anambra State, Awka Judicial Division, seeking a judicial interpretation of the church constitution and canons governing disciplinary proceedings against serving bishops.

The legal action comes days after Ndukuba announced the church’s decision ordering Ibezim to proceed on compulsory leave for six months while investigations into allegations involving him and the diocese are ongoing.

The dispute centers on the procedures adopted by the church leadership in handling the matter and whether the relevant constitutional and canonical provisions were followed before the mandatory leave directive was issued.

Ibezim disputes the establishment of the visiting group

In the suit, Ibezim named Ndukuba as the first defendant and Enyindah as the second defendant. Enyindah was joined in his capacity as the chairman of a visiting team constituted to examine matters affecting the Awka diocese.

The archbishop disputes the legality of the visiting group, which he described as illegally established by the Primate in a letter dated 17 June 2026.

The lawsuit seeks to determine the authority under which the team was formed and the procedures that should govern any investigation or disciplinary action involving a serving diocesan bishop.

The establishment of the visiting group is one of the issues raised in the legal challenge, as Ibezim seeks the court’s interpretation of the powers and responsibilities of the church leadership according to its governing documents.

The court asked to interpret the church’s constitution

Among the provisions sought by Ibezim is a declaration that the procedure for disciplining a serving diocesan bishop is prescribed by the 2020 Constitution and the canons of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

He specifically cited Articles 55 and 75 to 76 of the Constitution, as well as Articles 22 to 28 of Canon XVI, arguing that the provisions must be strictly followed before imposing disciplinary sanctions.

The sanctions at issue in the case include the suspension or removal from office of Bishop of Awka and Archbishop of the Province of Niger.

Ibezim also asks the court to declare that at least one of the 10 crimes listed in section 1 of Canon XVI must be established before disciplinary action can be taken against a primate, archbishop, bishop, priest or deacon.

The provision, as presented in the original summons, forms part of the legal basis for his request that the court establish the requirements for initiating and concluding disciplinary proceedings against a serving church leader.

Multiple canonical provisions cited

The archbishop is also seeking an interpretation of several provisions of canons V, VI, VII, IX, XII, XIV, XV, XVI and XVII of the Church’s regulatory framework.

The provisions cited concern the duties, powers and responsibilities of the various ecclesiastical offices, as well as the rules governing discipline within the Anglican Communion in Nigeria.

Through the lawsuit, Ibezim is asking the court to clarify how the relevant constitutional and canonical provisions should be applied to his situation and the disciplinary measures pursued against him.

The defendants, whose address is listed as St. Matthias House, Plot 942, Ibrahim Waziri Crescent, Gudu District, Apo, Abuja, have 42 days from the date of service of the original summons to appear.

The filing marks a legal challenge to the church leadership’s handling of the matter, with the court expected to consider the issues raised in the original subpoena in line with applicable legal procedures.

The Church orders a mandatory six-month leave

In a directive dated 13 October 2026, Ndukuba informed Ibezim of the decision to place him on compulsory leave for six months pending the conclusion of investigations into allegations involving the Archbishop and the Diocese of Awka.

The directive also prohibited Ibezim from officiating church activities throughout the period.

The church’s decision was presented as a provision awaiting investigation, while the subsequent judicial action contests aspects of the process and requests clarification on the rules governing disciplinary proceedings.

The allegations against Ibezim were not detailed in the report filed in court, and the specific evidence considered by the church was not disclosed.

The case therefore places the dispute over the disciplinary process before the High Court of Anambra State. No court decision on the damages sought has been reported as of October 16, 2026.