An Anambra state celebrity native doctor, Mr. Chidozie Nwangwu, alias Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki, has been sentenced to two years in prison after spending 12 months in-awaiting trial.
Nwangwu, who was sentenced on Friday by Justice Jude Obiorah on Suit number A/40C/2025, A/41C/2025 and A/42C/2025, was arrested in February 2025 by the state government security operative, Agunechemba Security, on the allegation of aiding and abetting kidnapping, money rituals, among others.
Justice Obiorah, who read the judgement, held 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.”
