The Anglican Diocese of Awka is in crisis as nine members accused Archbishop Alexander Ibezim of corruption.
The petition alleges unauthorized land sales, forgery, intimidation, and misuse of church funds for personal gain.
The Anglican Diocese of Awka has been thrown into turmoil following a petition submitted by a group of nine church members who accuse Archbishop Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim of large-scale corruption, abuse of office, and misconduct.
The petitioners, who refer to themselves as the Nine Crusaders, wrote to the Primate of the Church of Nigeria alleging that Archbishop Ibezim has been disposing of church assets without authorization. They claimed that several plots of land at Ngozika Estate and Ifite, Awka, were sold secretly, bypassing the Diocesan Board and Synod, in violation of the church constitution that vests asset control in its registered trustees.
Among the most serious allegations is the claim that the Archbishop forged the signature of retired Federal High Court judge, Justice Okechukwu J. Okeke, a trustee of the church, to validate the sale of more than 80 plots of land. The petitioners alleged that such an action not only compromises church property but also exposes the institution to criminal liability.
The group further accused the Archbishop of diverting proceeds from the land sales for personal enrichment. They alleged that he has invested in a private school with modern facilities, built plazas in Abuja, acquired property in the United States, and constructed what they described as one of the most extravagant private homes in Anambra State. At the same time, they claimed that diocesan mission schools have been left in poor condition due to inadequate funding.
Beyond financial concerns, the petitioners alleged that Archbishop Ibezim runs the diocese with a culture of intimidation. They stated that priests are subjected to humiliation, including being compelled to kneel to greet him, while his wife is accused of instructing pastors’ wives to collect cash contributions from parishioners without records. According to them, this style of leadership has pushed some communities to consider breaking away and creating new dioceses.
The Nine Crusaders issued an ultimatum to the Primate of the Church, demanding a thorough investigation into the allegations. They warned that continued inaction could trigger wider public protests and formal petitions to security agencies.
The group also suggested that the Archbishop may be benefiting from protection within the church hierarchy, pointing to what they described as a pattern of silence despite previous complaints. With their petition now circulating publicly, the crisis in Awka Diocese has shifted from an internal church dispute to a matter drawing national attention and calls for urgent resolution.
