Anambra Court Sentences Popular Native Doctor Akwa Okuko to 11 Months in Prison After Time Served

 

Justice Jude Obiora of the Anambra State High Court in Awka handed down the ruling against Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly called Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki or simply Akwa Okuko. The court convicted him on several counts related to involvement in what authorities describe as "oke ite" rituals practices the state government says include preparing charms that could aid criminal activities, such as fortifying individuals for illicit purposes.

Nwangwu, from Oba in the state, pleaded guilty as part of a plea bargain agreement with the Anambra State Government. This allowed for a reduced sentence. The judge initially imposed a two-year term on multiple counts (three through eight), to run concurrently, based on violations under the Criminal Code and the Anambra Homeland Security Law. That law, enacted under Governor Chukwuma Soludo, targets activities by native doctors believed to provide spiritual support to kidnappers, armed groups, or those involved in money rituals.

What made the effective penalty much shorter was the time Nwangwu had already spent in custody. Arrested in February 2025 by operatives of the Agunechemba Security outfit a state security initiative he had been detained for 13 months while awaiting trial. The court credited that period against his sentence, leaving him to serve just 11 months at the Awka Correctional Centre. His defense had pushed for him to complete the term at the Agunechemba facility, but the judge ruled that proper correctional infrastructure was lacking there.

The judgment went beyond incarceration. The court ordered the demolition of Nwangwu's shrine in his Oba village. It also directed him to publicly renounce the preparation and use of dangerous charms or ritual practices. After his release, he must produce and post video statements across his social media platforms denouncing such activities. A proposed fine totaling N60 million (N20 million on three counts) was waived, taking into account his guilty plea and expressions of remorse.

The case stems from wide efforts by the Anambra government to crack down on what officials see as the misuse of traditional practices to enable crime. Nwangwu was arrested alongside two other native doctors Onyebuchi Okocha (known as Onyeze Jesus) and Ekene Igboekweze (alias Eke Hit) though Friday's ruling focused solely on him. The charges originally included conspiracy to commit felony, specifically linked to kidnapping, fraud through claims of supernatural powers, and promoting rituals that allegedly provide "spiritual cover" for criminals.

Reactions in the state have been mixed. Some residents view the sentence as lenient, given initial fears of much harsher penalties early reports even mentioned potential 20-year terms before the plea deal. Others note that the 13 months already served means Nwangwu could walk free relatively soon, depending on good behavior credits. Social media buzzed with comments questioning whether 11 months adequately addresses the concerns raised, while supporters of the government's anti-ritual crackdown praised the additional non-custodial measures like the shrine demolition and public denunciation.

The ruling indicates ongoing tensions between traditional beliefs and modern law enforcement in parts of Nigeria, where native doctors play complex roles in communities. For many, these practitioners offer herbal remedies, spiritual guidance, or cultural rituals, but authorities argue some cross into enabling serious crimes like kidnapping a persistent issue in the Southeast.

The case serves as a reminder of the state's determination to enforce its homeland security measures. Whether this leads to broader changes in how traditional practices are regulated remains to be seen, but it has certainly put the spotlight on one of Anambra's most talked-about figures.