By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Anambra State celebrity native doctor, Mr Chidozie Nwangwu, alias Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki, has been sentenced to two years in prison after spending 13 months in awaiting trial.
Nwangwu, who was sentenced on Friday by Justice Jude Obiorah on suit no. A/40C/2025, A/41C/2025 and A/42C/2025, was arrested in February 2025 by the State government security operative, Agunechemba Security, on allegation of aiding and abetting kidnapping, money rituals, among others.
Justice Obiorah, who read the judgement, 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 judgment sentencing him to two years imprisonment 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.
“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 said: “The total fine sums up to N60million, 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 does not have correctional facilities.”
The court however made orders that must be adhered to as atonement for his sins such as “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."