Land sale allegation: Archbishop Ibezim secures court injunction against EFCC arrest

From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha

Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of the Diocese of Awka, Anglican Communion, Most Rev Dr Alex Ibezim, has secured an interim court injunction stopping Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting him.

 The Archbishop is facing investigation from the anti-graft agency following a petition by Bonti Onuigbo over alleged illegal sale of landed property belonging to the church.

A vacation judge, His Lordship The Hon. Justice F.I Aniukwu of the Anambra State High Court, Awka Judicial Division on Tuesday, 9th September issued an injunction to stop the anti-graft agency from arresting the prelate.

The Bishop obtained the injunction through an ex-parte motion he filed through his legal counsel, Mr B.E.I Nwofor, SAN, against the EFCC and the second respondent, Bonti Onuigbo.

He prayed “an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents by themselves and by their staff, servants, officers, workers, agents, or however, from acting on or doing anything whatsoever, based on the second respondent’s letter dated 28th July.”

A certified true copy of the injunction obtained yesterday showed that the court granted the order, and restrained EFCC from arresting the prelate.

“An order of interim injunction is granted restraining the Respondents acting by themselves or by their staff, servants, officers, workers or even agents from arresting and / or detaining the Applicant in connection with the facts of this case.

 The court also added: “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 seised of the suit.

“Unless renewed, the Order of Interim Injunction herein granted shall elapse 21 days from today,” the court stated.