A celebrity native doctor in Anambra state, Mr. Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki, has been sentenced to two years in prison after spending 12 months awaiting trial.
Top Society reports that Nwangwu was sentenced on Friday by Justice Jude Obiorah in a suit marked A/40C/2025, A/41C/2025 and A/42C/2025.
He was in February 2025 arrested by operatives of the Anambra State security outfit, Agunechemba over allegations of aiding and abetting kidnapping and money rituals, among others.
The native doctor was then arrested alongside two other of his colleagues, one Mr Okocha also known as Onyeze Jesus and Mr Ekene, also known as Eke Hit. All three have been undergoing trial, while being remanded in the custody of Agunechemba Security outfit.
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.
According to him, the judgement sentencing him to two years in prison was based on counts three, four, five, six, seven and eight “because the suspect has shown reasonable remorse,” while counts one, two and three of the charges were struck out, and were in line with the criminal code and the Anambra Homeland Law.
Obiorah held 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 in prison. Any person in the state who practices Okeite or ezenwanyi is liable to six years in prison.
“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 circumstances 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 plea by his counsel for him to serve in Agunechemba facility. This is because the Agunechemba facility does not have correctional facilities.”
The court however made orders that must be adhered to as atonement for his sins: “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,” Justice Obiorah ruled.
