The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Reverend Henry C. Ndukuba, has set up a visitation panel to look into sales of land in the Diocese of Awka, Anambra State.

There has been a controversy surrounding sales of land to the tune of N2 billion in the Diocese of Awka, with the Archbishop of the Niger Province and Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Grace, Rev Alexander Chibuzor Ibezim, and some members of the Diocese pointing fingers at each other.

The Archbishop has been accused of selling the church land without following the provisions of the Diocesan constitution and Canon, while he has claimed that the allegations were false and orchestrated to tarnish his image.

The visitation panel looking into the land matter is scheduled to sit at St. Mathias House, Gudu, Abuja today and tomorrow.

A letter inviting those to appear before the panel and signed by Venerable Paul Dajur, General Secretary, Church of Nigeria, simply said: “I have been directed by the Primate of All Nigeria, His Grace, Most Rev’d Henry C. Ndukuba, to write formally to invite you to appear before the Visitation Panel on Awka Land Matters, as part of its sitting scheduled for Friday, 29 August and Saturday, 30 August 2025. Proceedings shall commence at 10.00 am daily.”

The letter encouraged the invitees to avail themselves “of this opportunity, both as a mark of honour to the Primate and as a gesture of respect to the panel that has been duly charged to carry out this important task.”

Those invited include Archbishop Ibezim, Chief G. Tagbo, SAN, of Ike Ike Associates, who wrote a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Chief Echezona Bonti Onuigbu, who commissioned Chief Tagbo to write the petition; Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka, Hon Justice O. J. Okeke (retd); Diocesan Secretary, Barr. Chris Adimora and others.

It was gathered that the panel has one week to conclude its work and submit its findings and recommendations to the Primate, for final decision.

The land sales controversy rocking the Diocese of Awka has caused a lot of bad blood in the church, with the sacking of the Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka, Hon Justice O. J. Okeke (retd) by Bishop Ibezim.

The letter terminating the appointment of Justice Okeke as Chancellor said: “Your appointment as the chancellor of the Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion) is hereby terminated with effect from August 21, 2025.

“Thank you immensely, for the past services you rendered to the Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion) as Chancellor and Legal Officer.

“Please hand over all documents and properties of the Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion) in your possession to the Clerical Synod Secretary of the Diocese.”

A member of the church, Chief Onuigbo, through the law firm, Ike Ike Associates had petitioned EFCC on the matter, alleginging land stripping.

The petition by Chief Tagbo of Ike Ike Associates, on behalf of Onuigbo, dated July 28, 2025, alleged that the sale of the Diocese land did not follow the stipulated process.

It stated: “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.

“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.”

Reacting to allegations against the Archbishop, on behalf of the Diocese of Awka, in a press statement, by Ven Prince Chuma Oranye (Admin Assistant) and Ven Clement C. Mgbemena (Clerical Synod Secretary) said the allegations were “false, misleading and deliberately intended to tarnish the Archbishop’s reputation and destabilize the Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion).”

According to the press statement,: “It is not true that His Grace sold church lands single-handedly. The constitution of the Diocese clearly provides that the Incorporated Trustees of the Diocese, comprising the Bishop, the Chancellor and the Clerical Synod Secretary, must sign all land documents. No land was ever sold without due process and legal documentation.

“Furthermore, every land transaction approved by the Diocesan Board was based on the advice of the Diocesan Investment Committee and the Land Committee, following threats of land encroachment by grabbers. Proceeds were invested transparently into the monumental projects that today stand as verifiable proof of responsive leadership.” (The Sun)