Anambra native Doctor Akwa Okuko sentenced to two years, fined N60m

A popular native doctor in Anambra State, Mr Chidozie Nwangwu, widely known as Akwa Okuko, has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Nwangwu was arrested in February 2025 by operatives of the Agunechemba Security outfit over allegations of aiding and abetting kidnapping and involvement in money rituals.

He was arrested alongside two other native doctors, Mr Okocha, also known as Onyeze Jesus, and Mr Ekene, popularly called EkeHit.

All three have been undergoing trial, while being remanded in the custody of Agunechemba Security outfit, but on Friday, judgement was read on Nwangwu by Justice Jude Obiorah, after he pleaded guilty to charges against him.

Reading the judgement, Justice Obiorah 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 has shown reasonable remorse.

He, however, struck out counts one, two and three of the charges against him. He stated that Nwangwu’s conviction was based on both the criminal code and the Anambra Homeland Law.

He announced that: “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.”

He convicted the native doctors on counts three, four to eight sentencing him to a two-year prison term that will run concurrently.

Also on counts one, five and eight, Justice Obiorah fined the accused for 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 circumstance is not needed by the state.

“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.”

The court, however, gave orders that must be adhered to as atonement for his sins. The judge said: “The shrine of the defendant in Oba shall be destroyed, he shall from the date of release no longer practice Okeite and must make public statement denouncing it. The statement shall be recorded in video.

“He will be made ambassador of youth reorientation and must make public statement cautioning youths against seeking wealth through supernatural means,” the judge said.

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