Court To Determine On Vacation Of Ex-parte Order Restraining EFCC From Arresting Anglican Archbishop May 14th  

By Chuks Eke

Anambra State High Court sitting at Awka, presided over by Justice Ike Ogu, has adjourned hearing to May 14, this year, for the adoption of written addresses which will determine whether or not to vacate a subsisting ex-parte order restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from arresting and investigating fraud allegations levied against the Anglican Archbishop of Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim by Bonti Onuigbo, an aggrieved member of the Diocese.

Justice Ike Ogu had earlier fixed the adoption matter for April 2, this year, but due to Easter activities, the court did not sit, and it was adjourned to May 14.

During the adoption of the addresses, the petitioners are expected to be asking the court to vacate an ex-parte order granted against the EFCC to refrain from arresting Archbishop Ibezim and/or investigating the substance of the petition, while the accused person would insist that the ex-parte order should subsist until the substance of the petition against the Archbishop is heard and determined.

The aggrieved Bonti Onuigbo had complained to EFCC on the strength of a petition written by the former Registrar of the Diocese, Barr. Sir Chris Adimora, that Archbishop Ibezim had sold off almost all the landed properties of the Diocese without the consent of the Incorporated Registered Trustees of the Diocese, particularly the former Chancellor of the Diocese, Justice O. J. Okeke (Retd).

But to forestall arrest and investigations by the EFCC, based on the petition, Archbishop Ibezim headed to a High Court at Ekwulobia and obtained an ex-parte order restraining the anti-graft agency from arresting him and at the same time carrying out their statutory duties of investigating the allegations contained in the petition.

Following the ex-parte order, the EFCC agreed to suspend all actions about the petition against Archbishop Ibezim, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

But on May 14, both parties would adopt their written addresses in favour of or against the vacation of the ex-parte order.

Bonti Onuigbo had in the petition, dated July 28, 2025, and submitted to the EFCC’s Enugu Zonal Directorate by Chief G. Tagbo (SAN), his counsel, alleged that Archbishop Ibezim unlawfully sold church lands, arguing that only the Registered Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Anglican Church is legally empowered to handle such transactions.

During the court sitting, Mr. A. C. Okoli, counsel to EFCC, informed the court that the Commission would obey the court’s ex-parte order by maintaining the status quo and refraining from any further action against Archbishop Ibezim until the motion on notice is heard and determined.

Okoli explained that the EFCC’s invitation letter to the Archbishop, dated October 7, 2025, was issued before the agency became aware of the pending litigation.

According to Okoli, “We are law-abiding and will stay all actions pending the determination of the substantive application. We are, however, requesting a date for the hearing.”

Earlier, Archbishop Ibezim’s counsel, Beluolisa Nwofor (SAN), informed the court that both parties had mutually agreed that the EFCC would not invite, arrest, or take any further action against his client while the case is ongoing.

Nwofor also urged the court to formally suspend the EFCC’s October 7 invitation letter, signed by Mr. Farouk Abdullah on behalf of the Acting Zonal Director, Enugu, until the motion on notice is concluded.