Nwofor Says Ezeofor Can’t Remove Awka Diocese Chancellor, Threatens N5Bn Defamation Suit
Mr Beluolisa Nwofor (SAN), the Chancellor of Awka Diocese (Anglican Communion) has demanded immediate withdrawal of letter and apology from Rt. Rev. Dr. Samuel C. Ezeofor, Bishop, Diocese of Aguata who purportedly sacked him as Chancellor of the Diocese.
Nwofor in a letter entitled “Demand For Immediate Retraction Of The Offensive Letter and Public Apology” and dated Oct. 19 threatened to sue Bishop Ezeofor for N5 billion if he failed to withdraw the sack letter and tender public apology within 48 hours.
Ezeofor in a letter dated Oct. 17 announced the sack of Nwofor as Chancellor of Awka Diocese (Anglican Communion) after he was appointed as the Supervisory Bishop of the Diocese following the suspension of Arch Bishop Alexander Ibezim by Primate John Ndukuba.
Nwofor said that the publication was libellous and deliberately designed to tarnish his hard earned reputation.
He said the “Office Of The Supervising Bishop” Diocese of Awka, was unknown to and not unrecognised by the Constitution and Regulations of the Diocese of Awka, 2023 adding that Bishop Ezeofor wrote the letter in the name of an office which did not exist.
The Chancellor said the Bishop had no right to form his own letterhead with the inscription “Office Of The Supervising Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Samuel C. Ezeofor” as the letterhead of the Diocese of Awka to write to him.
Nwofor said Ezeofor was the current Bishop of the Diocese of Aguata and did not have the power to appoint or remove him from office as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka adding that he acted ultra vires your power by writing and publishing the said letter of his removal.
According to Nwofor, by the offensive and false words contained in your Lordship’s letter, your Lordship has deliberately done damage to my credit and reputation and I have been exposed to scandal, odium and contempt.
“I hereby demand that your Lordship should withdraw the said offensive letter within one day from the delivery of this letter.
“That your Lordship should, within two days from the date of delivery of this letter, publish an unqualified written public apology to me for the said offensive publication and give such publication the same widespread publicity in the print, electronic and online media.
“That your Lordship should, within seven days from the delivery of this letter, pay the sum of N5 billion being damage for the libellous publication.
“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,” he said.
Nwofor said the Constitution and Regulations of the Diocese of Awka, 2023, was clear and unambiguous on the administration in the absence of the Bishop as approved by the Church of Nigeria Standing Committee Sept. 14, 2023.
He said Section 10.4 of the Constitution and Regulations provided that it shall be lawful that the Bishop in consultation with the Chancellor to provide for the administration of the Diocese during his absence or in case of his incapacitation through illness, or absence for more than eight weeks.
He quoted the law as saying that they could appoint an Administrator who had the same authority and jurisdiction as the Bishop and in case of death or resignation of the Bishop, the Administrator shall retain his authority until the Primate made an order for the administration of the Diocese during the vacancy.
He said Bishop Ezeofor in his ‘offensive’ and ‘libellous’ letter, failed to state the law or the provision of the Constitution and Regulations of the Diocese of Awka which gave him the power to remove the Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka.
“From this provision, it is the prerogative of Archbishop-Ibezim and myself as the Chancellor to provide for the administration of the Diocese during the absence of Archbishop Ibezim from the Diocese by appointing an Administrator who shall have the same authority and jurisdiction as the Bishop has.
“Even in the case of death or resignation of the Bishop, the Administrator shall retain his authority until the Primate shall make an order for the administration of the Diocese during the vacancy.
“The events of death or resignation of the Bishop have not occurred to justify the Primate to make an order for the administration of the Diocese.
“None of the above situations has occurred to put an end to my tenure as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka (Anglican Communion).
My tenure of office is still subsisting and I remain the incumbent Chancellor of the Diocese of Awka.
“The purported letter of removal is, therefore, null and void and of no legal effect, whatsoever.
