By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The long-detained popular Anambra native doctor, Mr. Chidozie Nwangwu (popularly known as Akwa Ọkụkọ Tiwara Akị) will be made an Ambassador of Youth Reorientation in months time upon completion of his jail term.
This formed part of the conditions contained in a judgement delivered by Justice Jude Obiorah on Friday, in Akwa’s case, after he had spent 13 months in awaiting trial.
Recall that Akwa Ọkụkọ was arrested in February 2025 alongside two other native doctors: Onyebuchi Isaac Okocha (popularly known as Prophet Onye Eze Jesus), and Ekene Nwokeocha Igboekweze (popularly known as Eke Hit) by operatives of the Anambra State security outfit, Agunechemba Security Outfit, over allegations bordering on aiding and abetting kidnapping, money rituals, and other related offences.
Their arrest and subsequent detention formed part of the Anambra State Government’s intensified crackdown on criminal elements and individuals accused of promoting illicit wealth practices under the guise of spiritual powers.
Delivering judgement on Friday in suits numbered A/40C/2025, A/41C/2025 and A/42C/2025, Justice Obiorah sentenced Nwangwu (Akwa Ọkụkọ) to two years imprisonment, after he pleaded guilty to multiple counts preferred against him and entered into a plea bargain agreement with the state government.
The court held that the conviction and sentencing were based on provisions of both the Criminal Code and the Anambra Homeland Security Law, which criminalize certain practices associated with ritual wealth and supernatural claims linked to unlawful activities.
Justice Obiorah explained that the two-year sentence applied to counts three, four, five, six, seven and eight, and ruled that the prison terms would run concurrently, meaning they would be served at the same time rather than consecutively.
The court, however, struck out some of the earlier counts, while also considering the defendant’s expression of remorse as a significant mitigating factor in determining the final outcome of the case.
Although the court initially imposed fines totalling ₦60 million across three different counts (i.e ₦20 million on each count), Justice Obiorah waived the financial penalties, citing the remorse shown by the convict and ruling that the circumstances did not necessitate the state collecting such fines.
“The total fine sums up to ₦60 million, but because of the remorse shown by the accused, the fine is now waived as such money in such a circumstance is not needed by the state,” he stated.
The court further ordered that the 13 months already spent in detention by Akwa Ọkụkọ be deducted from the two-year sentence, leaving the him with approximately 11 months to be served at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Awka.
“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 pleas by his counsel for him to serve in the Agụnechemba facility. This is because the Agụnechemba facility does not have correctional facilities,” the court declared.
The judge rejected the request by defence counsel seeking to have the convict serve the remainder of his sentence at the Agụnechemba detention facility, ruling that the Awka Correctional Centre remained the appropriate and lawful custodial institution.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the court also issued far-reaching corrective and restorative directives aimed at discouraging similar practices and promoting societal reorientation.
The court ordered that the convict’s shrine located in Oba be demolished as part of measures to dismantle structures associated with the prohibited practices. He also barred Akwa Ọkụkọ permanently from engaging in Okeite or any related ritual practices.
Justice Obiorah further mandated that upon completion of his sentence, Nwangwu must publicly denounce such practices and record a video statement warning young people against the pursuit of wealth through supernatural or illicit means.
As part of his rehabilitation and reintegration, the court ruled that he (Akwa Ọkụkọ) would be designated an Ambassador of Youth Reorientation, with responsibility to educate and discourage youths from engaging in criminal or ritual-related activities.
“He will be made ambassador of youth reorientation and must make public statement cautioning youths against seeking wealth through supernatural means,” the judgement concluded.
