Anambra High court jails celebrity native doctor 2-yrs orders shrine demolition
A High Court sitting in Awka has sentenced a popular Anambra-celebrity native doctor, Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwa Okuko, to two years imprisonment.
Nwangwu was arrested in February 2025 by operatives of the Agunechemba Security Outfit over allegations bordering on aiding and abetting kidnapping and involvement in money rituals.
He was arrested alongside two other native doctors, Okocha, also known as Onyeze Jesus and Mr Ekene, popularly called Eke Hit.
The trio had been standing trial while in the custody of the Agunechemba Security Outfit.
Delivering judgment on Friday in suits Nos. A/40C/2025, A/41C/2025 and A/42C/2025, Justice Jude Obiorah held that Nwangwu had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges.
The judge further noted that the defendant entered into a plea bargain agreement with the Anambra State Government.
Justice Obiorah said the court sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment on counts three, four, five, six, seven and eight, noting that the sentence would run concurrently.
The judge struck out counts one, two and three and held that the conviction was based on provisions of the Criminal Code and the Anambra Homeland Law.
He stated that under the law, any person who claims to possess powers to heal or make individuals wealthy through magical means such as “Okeite” is liable to two years’ imprisonment.
He added that anyone who practises Okeite or “ezenwanyi” in the state is liable to six years’ imprisonment.
The court also imposed a fine of N20 million each on counts one, five and eight, amounting to N60 million in total, but waived the fine in view of the remorse shown by the convict.
Justice Obiorah ordered that the 13 months already spent in detention be deducted from the sentence, leaving the convict to serve the remaining 11 months at the Awka Correctional Centre.
The court declined the plea by his counsel for him to serve the term at the Agunechemba facility, stating that the facility lacked correctional infrastructure.
As part of the judgment, the court ordered the demolition of Nwangwu’s shrine located in Oba and barred him from practising Okeite upon release.
The court further directed that he must make a public, video-recorded statement denouncing the practice.
It also ordered him to serve as an ambassador for youth reorientation, cautioning young people against seeking wealth through supernatural means.
