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From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of the Diocese of Awka, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Alex Ibezim has secured an interim court injunction stopping Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting him.
The Bishop had been accused of illegal sale of landed property belonging to the church, and embezzlement of the money.
Sources said he was petitioned to the EFCC by some members of the church led by second respondent, Prince Bonti Onuigbo.
Daily Sun learnt the petition bothered on complaint about what was referred to as voracious wealth acquisition, and shortchanging of some of his allies, prompting EFCC to open investigation on the matter.
But a vacation judge, His Lordship the Hon. Justice F.I Aniukwu of the Anambra State High Court, Awka Judicial Division, on Tuesday September 9, issued an injunction to stop the anti-graft agency from arresting the prelate.
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The Bishop obtained the injection through an ex-parte motion he filed through his legal counsel, B.E.I Nworie, 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 howsoever, from acting on or doing anything whatsoever, based on second respondent’s letter dated July 28.”
A certified true copy of the injunction, which was obtained by Daily Sun, yesterday, showed that the court granted the order, and restrained EFCC from arresting the prelate.
“An order of interim injuction 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 fact of this case.
The court also added that: “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 seized of the suit.
“Unless renewed, the Order of Interim Injunction herein, granted shall elapse 21 days from today,” the court stated.
