Nigeria, Oct. 22 -- Despite a heavy security presence and protests at the Cathedral Church of St Faith, Awka, on Wednesday, the Supervising Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Awka, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, on Thursday assumed his supervisory responsibilities with a meeting with clergymen of the Diocese and their wives.

Ezeofor was appointed by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, to oversee the affairs of the Diocese amid a lingering leadership crisis.

The former Bishop of the Diocese and Archbishop of the Niger Province, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, had been directed by the Primate to proceed on a six-month leave to allow investigations into allegations of corruption bordering on the sale of church lands worth ...