An Anambra State High Court has sentenced popular native doctor, Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwa Okuko, to two years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to multiple charges bordering on aiding and abetting kidnapping and ritual-related offences.
Nwangwu was arrested in February 2025 by operatives of the Agunechemba Security outfit alongside two other native doctors — Mr Okocha, also known as Onyeze Jesus, and Mr Ekene, also called Eke Hit.
The trio had been undergoing trial while in the custody of the security outfit.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Jude Obiorah said the defendant had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges and entered into a plea bargain agreement with the state government.
The judge sentenced Nwangwu to two years imprisonment on counts three, four, five, six, seven and eight, ruling that the sentences would run concurrently. He struck out counts one, two and three.
Justice Obiorah said the conviction was based on provisions of the Criminal Code and the Anambra Homeland Law.
He noted that under the law, anyone who claims to possess powers to heal or make people rich through magical means such as Okeite is liable to two years imprisonment, while anyone who practices Okeite or ezenwanyi is liable to six years in prison.
On counts one, five and eight, the court imposed a fine of N20 million each, bringing the total to N60 million.
However, the judge waived the fine in view of the remorse shown by the convict, stating that such money was not needed by the state under the circumstances.
The court also held that the 13 months Nwangwu had already spent in detention would be deducted from his sentence, leaving him to serve the remaining 11 months at the Awka Correctional Centre.
The judge declined the plea by his counsel to allow him serve his term at the Agunechemba facility, noting that it lacks proper correctional infrastructure.
As part of conditions attached to his conviction, the court ordered that the defendant’s shrine in Oba be destroyed. It further ruled that upon his release, he must cease practicing Okeite and make a public video statement denouncing it.
Justice Obiorah also directed that Nwangwu be made an ambassador for youth reorientation and mandated him to publicly caution youths against seeking wealth through supernatural means.
