A year after his arrest and arraignment, notorious Anambra state-born native doctor, Chigozie Nwangwu, popular as “Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aku” ( Okeite) on Friday, February 27 2026, bagged a two-year jail sentence from an Anambra state High Court.
He was also slammed with a N60 million fine by the trial Judge, Honourable Justice Jude Obiora.
The Source reports that Nwangwu was on February, 2025, apprehended by security operatives, including personnel of the Nigerian Immigration Service NIS, while trying to escape through the Nigeria/Benin Republic Seme border over alleged involvement in aiding and abetting kidnapping activities, ritual practices, and other criminal activities.
His arrest was preceded by the destruction of his Oba shrine and palatial mansion, including choice vehicles, by irate community youths who accused him of involvement in several cases of kidnappings, murder for ritual practices and other criminal activities.
He was, subsequently arraigned alongside three of his accomplices including one Okocha ,a.k.a Onyeze Jesus.
His conviction and sentencing followed his guilty-plea to all the eight count charge preferred against him, and a plea bargain said to have been entered into with the Anambra State authorities
In his ruling, Justice Obiorah held that the two-year jail term derived from the manifest remorse shown by the accused in the course of his trial and in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Code, and the Anambra State Homeland Law.
Nwangwu, according to Justice Obiorah is to serve 11 months out of the total of two years, having already spent 13 months in custody while the trial lasted.
Similarly, the court waived the total fine of N60 million against the convict on the grounds that such money is not needed by the State Government.
“Under the law, anyone who claims to possess powers to heal or make one rich through certain magical means like Okeite is liable on conviction to two years imprisonment.
“Any person in the State who practices Okeite, or Ezenwanyi is liable to six years in prison”, Justice Obiorah held.
While sentencing the accused to two years each on counts three ,four, five six, seven and eight (sentence to run concurrently) , Justice Obiorah fined him cumulatively the sum of N60 million on counts one ,five and eight.
“The total sum fine sums up to N60 million ,but because of the remorse shown by the accused, the fined is now waived as such in such circumstances is not needed by the state.
“He has spent 13 months in detention already, same will be computed into his sentence. So he will now serve the remaining 11 months of his sentence at Awka Correctional Centre as against plea by his counsel for him to serve at Agunechemba facility. This is because the Agunechemba facility is not a correctional centre”, the court ruled.
Furthermore, Justice Obiorah ordered the immediate destruction of the defendants shrine located in Oba, in addition to a firm assurance from the convict not to further indulge in the practice of Okeite.
The convict according to the Judge shall, henceforth serve as a youth ambassador on reorientation, including the task of regularly making public statements cautioning youths against engagements in dubious acts for the purpose of getting rich,as well as other community services.
