An Anambra State High Court sitting in Awka has sentenced a detained native doctor, Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwaokuko Tiwara Aki, to two years imprisonment.
The presiding judge, Justice Jude Obiora, found Nwangwu guilty on counts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, sentencing him to two years on each count. The court, however, struck out counts 1, 2, 9 and 10.
Justice Obiora ruled that the sentences will run concurrently. He noted that since Nwangwu had already spent 13 months in detention at the Agunechemba facility in Awka, he would serve the remaining 11 months at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Awka.
Reading the judgment, Justice Obiora revealed that the native doctor had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges against him and also entered a plea bargain with the state government.
The judge noted that the judgment sentencing the suspect to two years imprisonment on counts three, four, five, six, seven and eight was because the suspect had shown reasonable remorse.
Justice Obiora stated that Nwangwu’s conviction was based on both the Criminal Code and the Anambra Homeland Law.
“Under the law, anyone who claims to possess powers to heal, or make one rich through certain magical means like Okite is liable to two years imprisonment.
“Any person in the state who practices Okite or ezenwanyi is liable to six years in prison,” the judge stated.
Justice Obiora stated that he initially considered imposing fines of N20 million each on counts one, five and eight in lieu of six-year prison terms prescribed by law, totalling N60 million.
However, he decided to waive the fines after observing Nwangwu’s remorse during detention.
“The total fine sums up to N60 million, but because of the remorse shown by the accused, the fine is now waived as such money in such circumstance is not needed by the state,” the judge said.
Although defence counsel requested that Nwangwu serve his sentence at the Agunechemba facility, the court ruled that the sentence must be served at the Awka Correctional Centre, noting that the Agunechemba facility lacks proper correctional infrastructure.
“He has spent 13 months in detention already, same will be computed into his sentence, so he will serve the 11 months of his sentence in Awka Correctional Centre, as against plea by his counsel for him to serve in Agunechemba facility. This is because the Agunechemba facility is not a correctional centre,” Justice Obiora ruled.
In the judgment, the court ordered that Nwangwu’s controversial shrine located in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area, be completely destroyed, with the demolition recorded on video.
The court further directed him to sign an undertaking not to engage in Okite practices again and ordered him to use all his social media platforms to inform the public that he no longer practises Okite.
“He shall from the date of release no longer practice Okite and must make public statement denouncing it. The statement shall be recorded in video,” the judge ordered.
After serving his sentence, Nwangwu was ordered to serve as a youth ambassador to correct the impression he created among young people about acquiring wealth through illegal means.
“He will be made ambassador of youth reorientation and must make public statement cautioning youths against seeking wealth through supernatural means,” the judge said.
Nwangwu was in February 2025 arrested by operatives of Agunechemba Security outfit on allegations of aiding and abetting kidnapping and money rituals, among others.
The native doctor was arrested alongside two other of his colleagues, Mr Onyebuchi Okocha, also known as Onyeze Jesus, and Mr Ekene Igboekweze, popularly called Eke Hit.
