A High Court in Anambra State has sentenced a popular native doctor, Mr. Chidozie Nwangwu, widely known as Akwa Okuko, to two years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to multiple charges.
Nwangwu was arrested in February 2025 by operatives of the Agunechemba Security outfit over allegations bordering on aiding and abetting kidnapping and engaging in money rituals. He was apprehended alongside two other native doctors, Mr. Okocha, also known as Onyeze Jesus, and Mr. Ekene, popularly called Eke Hit.
The trio had been standing trial while remanded in the custody of the Agunechemba Security outfit. However, judgment was delivered on Friday by Justice Jude Obiorah after Nwangwu admitted guilt and entered into a plea bargain agreement with the Anambra State Government.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Obiorah stated that the defendant had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges and reached a plea bargain with the prosecution, a factor that influenced the court’s decision.
He explained that the two-year sentence on counts three, four, five, six, seven, and eight was handed down because the convict showed “reasonable remorse.” The judge, however, struck out counts one, two, and three of the charges.
Justice Obiorah noted that the conviction was based on provisions of both the Criminal Code and the Anambra Homeland Law.
He declared, “Under the law, anyone who claims to possess powers to heal or make one rich through certain magical means like Okeite is liable to two years imprisonment.
“Any person in the state who practices Okeite or ezenwanyi is liable to six years in prison.”
The court sentenced the native doctor to two years’ imprisonment on counts three, four, five, six, seven, and eight, ruling that the terms would run concurrently.
On counts one, five, and eight, the judge initially imposed a fine of N20 million each.
He said, “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 a circumstance is not needed by the state.
“He has spent 13 months in detention already; the same will be computed into his sentence, so he will serve the 11 months of his sentence in Awka Correctional Centre, as against the plea by his counsel for him to serve in the Agunechemba facility. This is because the Agunechemba facility does not have correctional facilities.”
Beyond the custodial sentence, the court issued additional orders, which the judge described as measures of atonement.
According to Justice Obiorah: “The shrine of the defendant in Oba shall be destroyed; he shall, from the date of release, no longer practice Okeite and must make a public statement denouncing it. The statement shall be recorded in video.
“He will be made ambassador of youth reorientation and must make a public statement cautioning youths against seeking wealth through supernatural means.”
