The Managing Director of Stelconic Properties Limited, Chief Chukwuemeka Nkem Pat Orjiakor, has praised the Anglican Diocese of Awka for clearing the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger, His Grace, The Most Revd. Dr. Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, of all allegations of financial misconduct.
The commendation followed an emergency session of the Diocesan Board held on Monday, 18th August 2025, at the Awka Diocesan Retreat and Resource Centre, Okpuno, during which the Board unanimously dismissed allegations of misappropriation amounting to over ₦752 million.
It would be recalled that the petition, submitted by one Prince Bonti Echezona Onuigbo, had alleged that proceeds from the sale of diocesan lands were diverted into the Archbishop’s personal account. Onuigbo, who reportedly engaged the services of senior lawyer Chief Tagbo Ike (SAN), also claimed that Archbishop Ibezim had retrenched over 1,000 workers of the Diocese.
Board’s Findings
In its resolution, the Diocesan Board described the allegations as false, baseless, mischievous, and politically motivated, stating that they were aimed at damaging the Archbishop’s personal integrity and tarnishing the good image of the Anglican Church.
Ven. Samuel Okonkwo, Archdeacon of St. Faith Cathedral, Awka, clarified that Onuigbo had no standing to raise the matter, since he is neither a registered member of the Cathedral nor a stakeholder in the Diocese. He stressed that only bona fide members of the Church should be involved in its internal matters.
The Diocesan Treasurer, Prof. Clifford Nwanna, and the Financial Secretary, Mrs. Lovelyn Umeh, both testified with documented evidence that all proceeds from land sales were properly lodged in the Diocesan account.
Ven. Jason Onyeakagbusi, Secretary of the Land Committee, further reinforced this by confirming that his Committee maintained comprehensive records of all diocesan lands dating back to the tenure of the late Archbishop M. S. C. Anikwenwa. He dismissed Onuigbo’s petition as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
On the issue of alleged mass retrenchment, Ven. B. K. Ofili stated that the claims were entirely unfounded. He affirmed that, under Archbishop Ibezim’s leadership, the Diocese had actually expanded its educational and institutional establishments, thereby creating new job opportunities.
“Under Archbishop Ibezim, the Diocese has birthed new institutions that created opportunities rather than eliminated them,” Ven. Ofili explained. He listed notable establishments including the Archbishop Alexander Ibezim College of Education, Nibo-Nise; the Millennium College of Nursing Sciences, Awka; and the Renaissance Modern Polytechnic, Mbaukwu, alongside several new primary and secondary schools.
He further highlighted Archbishop Ibezim’s consistent push for clergy to pursue higher education, noting that Awka Diocese today has the highest number of PhD holders in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), an achievement he said was empowerment, not retrenchment.
At the end of deliberations, the Board reached a unanimous resolution that the petition lacked credibility and was an attempt to smear the Archbishop’s reputation.
Chief Orjiakor Stands by the Archbishop
Reacting to the Board’s verdict, the Managing Director of Stelconic Properties Limited, Chief Chukwuemeka Nkem Pat Orjiakor, commended the Diocese for what he described as a timely and courageous decision to uphold truth.
Speaking to NewdayReporters, Chief Orjiakor described the allegations as malicious fabrications designed to tarnish the Archbishop’s good name. He stressed that Archbishop Ibezim’s life and ministry were marked by integrity and godliness, and that no baseless petition could erode his record of service.
> “The integrity of our Archbishop remains intact. I stand firmly behind His Grace, The Most Revd. Dr. Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, PhD. He is a man of impeccable character whose good works speak louder than any falsehood. I commend the Diocesan Board for its swift and transparent handling of this matter, ensuring that the image of the Anglican Church remains unstained,” Orjiakor stated.
He further urged members of the Church and the wider public not to be swayed by false claims. Instead, he encouraged them to emulate the values of Christ and resist being instruments of destruction.
> “We must not allow the devil to use us as tools for character assassination. The mission of the Church is the propagation of the gospel of Christ, not the spreading of falsehoods. Our people must rise above petty distractions,” he added.
A Test of Leadership and Integrity
The resolution of the matter has not only reaffirmed the credibility of Archbishop Ibezim’s leadership but also highlighted the transparency of the Awka Diocese’s governance structures. For many observers, the episode was a test of the Church’s ability to confront internal dissent with fairness and accountability.
For Archbishop Ibezim, whose tenure has been marked by expansion in education, clergy development, and institutional growth, the dismissal of the allegations is a significant vindication. For the Anglican Diocese of Awka, it is a reaffirmation of unity and integrity in the face of attempts at internal division.
As Chief Orjiakor advised, the Church must remain focused on its higher calling, the advancement of the gospel of Christ and the building of lives, not the tearing down of reputations.
