COURT STOPS EFCC FROM ARRESTING, INVESTIGATING ANGLICAN BISHOP

The Anambra High Court sitting in Awka has restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), from arresting Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, Bishop of Awka Diocese (Anglican Communion), over alleged unauthorised sale of church-owned land.

Justice F.I. Aniukwu granted the order following a motion ex parte dated Sept. 4, filed by the applicant, Ibezim, through his legal counsel, Mr B.E.I. Nwofor (SAN).

The motion was brought pursuant to Orders 3 and 4(a), (b)(iv), and (v) of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, seeking to prevent the EFCC from taking any action against the Bishop pending the determination of the substantive suit.

A copy of the court order was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Thursday.

Granting the order, the Judge held that, “an order of interim injunction is granted restraining the respondents acting by themselves or by their staff, servants, officers, workers or agents from arresting, or detaining the applicant in connection with the facts of this case.

“The interim order is made to last till such a period that the parties would have fully exchanged processes in respect of the Motion on Notice No: A/1307M/2025 filed alongside the motion ex parte.

“And the motion on notice heard or fixed for hearing by the regular court ceased of the suit

“Unless renewed, the order of interim injunction herein granted shall elapse 21 days from today,”it said.

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Recall that leaders of the Awka Diocese of the Anglican Church have petitioned the EFCC over the alleged unauthorised sale of church land by Ibezim.

A petition dated July 28, was submitted to the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the EFCC by Chief G. Tagbo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), on behalf of Mr Echezona Onuigbo of St. Faith Cathedral, Awka, Anambra.

The petition alleges that Ibezim had no right or authority to sell any church property, stating that such authority is vested in the Church’s Board of Trustees (BoT), who are the legal custodians of all church assets.