Awka Diocese Chancellor B.E.I. Nwofor threatens legal action against Samuel Ezeofor over his removal and demands a retraction and apology.
In his letter, Nwofor said: “Your letter dated Saturday, October 17, 2026 entitled cremoval as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka (Anglican Diocese)” is libelous as it was deliberately designed to tarnish my reputation.
“Your Lordship has no right to form your own letterhead with the inscription “Office Of The Supervising Bishop, purporting it to be the letterhead of the Diocese of Awka and proceed to use such letterhead to write to me.
“The Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion) has its own constitution, namely, The Constitution and Regulations of the – Diocese of Awka, 2023, which governs the affairs of the Diocese. It must be emphatically stated that the purported “Office of The Supervising Bishop” Diocese of Awka, is unknown to, and unrecognised by, the Constitution and Regulations of the Diocese of Awka, 2023.
“Your Lordship cannot write any letter in the name of an office which does not exist. The Constitution and Regulations of the Diocese of Awka, 2023, has ample, clear, and unambiguous provisions on the administration of the Diocese during the absence of the Bishop, which was approved by the Church of Nigeria Standing Committee on 14th September, 2023.
“Your Lordship is the current Bishop of the Diocese of Aguata (Anglican Communion) and does not have the power to appoint or remove me from office as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion).
“Your Lordship may appoint or remove the Chancellor of the Diocese of Aguata but certainly acted ultra vires your power by writing and publishing your said Ietter purporting to remove me as the Chancellor of Diocese of Awka(Anglican Communion). The purported letter of removal is, therefore, null and void and of no legal effect, whatsoever.”
Nwofor insisted that as Chancellor of the Diocese, it is his right to appoint a new administrator in the case of the death of the bishop of the diocese or resignation, after which the Primate begins preparation for the election of a new bishop, stating that in this case, the bishop neither resigned nor was dead, stripping them of any powers to remove Bishop Ibezim or himself as the Chancellor.
Referring to the libellous nature of the publications made against him by Bishop Ezeofor, Nwofor demanded for retraction of letter, apologies to him, failure of which would result in a legal suit.
“Take notice that if you fail, refuse or neglect to comply with these demands, I will institute an action in court against your Lordship to obtain redress. Your Lordship is not above the law.”
