*Tackle Primate Ndukuba, Sapele Diocese Bishop Erifeta
The decade-old crisis rocking the Sapele Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has assumed a frightening dimension, following a blistering counter press statement by a group of suspended priests and lay officials, who have rejected their suspension and released an explosive list of allegations against the Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Rev. Blessing Erifeta.
In the statement, issued under the banner of Concerned Members of Rescue Sapele Diocese Group, the aggrieved clergy and laity condemned what they described as the “purported suspension” of church members and the alleged dissolution of committees at St. Luke’s Cathedral, Sapele, Delta State, insisting that the actions are unconstitutional, procedurally flawed and of no effect.
They accused the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, His Grace, the Most Revd Dr. Henry C. Ndukuba, and his “proxies” of acting outside the provisions of the Church’s Constitution and canons, stressing that no fair hearing or due process was followed.
According to them, the Primate lacks unilateral powers to suspend members or dissolve duly constituted church committees without recourse to the appropriate ecclesiastical bodies.
“We issue this statement to formally and unequivocally reject and condemn the purported suspension of members of some churches and the alleged dissolution of church committees by the Primate and his proxies.
“These actions are unconstitutional, procedurally flawed, and of no effect whatsoever. At no time were the affected members afforded due process, fair hearing, or the involvement of the appropriate ecclesiastical and constitutional bodies as required by the governing instruments of the Church.
“The Primate, whether acting personally or through proxies, does not possess absolute or unilateral powers to suspend members or dissolve duly constituted church committees outside the clear provisions of the Church’s Constitution and established canons.
“All members purportedly suspended remain full and bona fide members in good standing, while all committees allegedly dissolved remain validly constituted and operational,” the statement, signed by one Chief (Mrs.) Veronica Aruoture, declared, warning that any actions or appointments arising from the suspensions are “null, void, and unenforceable”.
The group called on clergy and laity to remain calm and prayerful, urging them to disregard directives not grounded in due process, while vowing to pursue “lawful, peaceful and transparent” means to safeguard the integrity of the Church.
“The Church is not governed by arbitrariness or personal discretion, but by law, order, accountability, and collective leadership. Any attempt to rule by proxy, intimidation, or administrative fiat undermines the unity of the Church and contradicts its spiritual and constitutional foundations.
“We call on all clergy and laity to remain calm, prayerful, and resolute, and to disregard any directives that do not comply with due process and constitutional authority. We further affirm our commitment to lawful, peaceful, and transparent resolution of all disputes within the framework of the Truth, Equity and Justice.
“All necessary steps where appropriate, will be taken to safeguard the integrity of the Church, its institutions, and its members,” the statement added.
However, the statement went beyond procedural objections and opened what observers describe as a “can of worms” by publishing a lengthy catalogue of allegations against Bishop Erifeta.
The group claimed that the allegations were previously investigated by a panel set up under a former Primate, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, but that the panel’s findings were allegedly suppressed by the current leadership because of their damaging nature.
Among the accusations are claims of reckless spending of diocesan funds allegedly amounting to about ₦900 million; running diocesan-owned institutions, including a school and a pure water factory, as personal businesses; and coercing diocesan bodies, particularly women’s groups, to fund personal and family expenses, including foreign trips.
The statement also alleged financial impropriety involving withdrawals from women’s accounts, diversion of funds raised for clerical training, failure to remit tax deductions, questionable vehicle purchases and sales, and lack of accountability in diocesan financial administration.
Further allegations touched on leadership style, accusing the Bishop of autocracy, intimidation, tribalism, and actions said to have caused deep divisions within the diocese and a sharp decline in membership.
Some of the claims were personal and far-reaching, including accusations bordering on moral misconduct, which the group said had brought the diocese into disrepute.
The statement concluded by portraying the Bishop as having failed in his pastoral responsibilities and pledged continued resistance in defence of what it described as truth, equity and justice within the Church.
As of the time of filing this report, the diocesan authorities and the national leadership of the Church of Nigeria had not issued a formal response to the fresh allegations.
The unfolding dispute is expected to intensify scrutiny of church governance in the Sapele Diocese and may test existing mechanisms for conflict resolution within the Anglican Communion in Nigeria.
- Media Report