Armageddon In Awka: Anglican Diocese Engulfed In Land Sale Forgery Scandal
What was once a sanctuary of faith has now become a battleground of accusations, counter-claims, and high-stakes investigations.
The Awka Diocese of the Anglican Communion is in turmoil after explosive allegations of forgery and questionable land sales tore through its leadership, prompting sackings, petitions, and the direct intervention of the Church’s Primate.
The crisis erupted when the Chancellor of the Diocese, Hon. Justice Sir O.J. Okeke, alleged that his signature was forged in connection with a controversial land transaction.
His refusal to submit to what he branded a “charade” reconciliation process has intensified the storm, especially as he escalated the matter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), demanding a full criminal probe.
In a dramatic move, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Revd. Henry Ndukuba, has set up a powerful investigative panel comprising four judges, a bishop, and a venerable as secretary.
The panel has already begun sittings in Abuja and will soon relocate to Awka, underlining the seriousness of the scandal.
While several top diocesan officials have been dismissed, tension continues to mount after Justice Okeke accused church leaders of shielding those responsible, alleging that board meetings were compromised by non-members and personal attacks against him.
Though the Diocese insists Archbishop Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim has been cleared of allegations of diverting land proceeds, the controversy has shaken confidence in church governance and raised uncomfortable questions about priorities within the Nigerian church.
With the EFCC circling, the Primate’s probe underway, and the Chancellor unyielding, many fear that Awka Diocese is facing its most dangerous storm yet—one that could redefine integrity and accountability in the Anglican Church.
