Notorious Anambra native doctor, Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as ‘Akwa Okuko tiwara aki’ has been convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment by an Anambra State High Court sitting in Awka.
Nwangwu was arrested last year and has since been in detention at the facility of the state-owned security outfit, Agunechemba, standing trial over charges including money rituals, ties to kidnapping, dealing in illegal substances, and illegal firearm possession.
However, during his appearance on Friday after a long period of legal battle, the native doctor, through his legal representatives, entered a plea bargain with the prosecution on Counts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Delivering a judgment after taking in the plea bargain, the presiding judge, Justice Jude Obiorah, struck out counts 1, 2, 9, and 10, bordering on criminal charges, punishable under the Criminal Code.
Justice Obiorah, however, convicted the accused on counts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, bordering on the practice of supernatural worship otherwise known as ‘Okeite’, and public propagation of accumulation of wealth, without any known legitimate means.
These offences are punishable under the Anambra State Homeland Security Law.
The judge sentenced the accused to two years each on two counts, which he said would be served concurrently.
He was also awarded a fine of two million naira each for the other three counts the accused was convicted of, totaling sixty million.
Noting that the plea bargain shows that the accused has opted to acknowledge his misdemeanour and elected to serve a consequence no matter how insignificant, Justice Obiorah said the court was satisfied that the plea bargain was a voluntary decision without inducement or coercion that may lead to miscarriage of justice.
He said the court also decided to waive the fine option because of the plea bargain and the commitment of the accused to be a good ambassador of youth entrepreneurship and public reorientation.
“The court decided to try the defendant under the Criminal Code and the Anambra Homeland Security Law. Some of the offences have a penalty of six years imprisonment or an option of N20 million fine, or both.
“The court has decided to go for the fine option because of the plea bargain entered by the defendant.
“This is also in view of the defendant’s remorse and commitment to becoming a youth ambassador for youth entrepreneurship,” the judge said.
The court directed that the defendant be remanded at the Awka Correctional Centre, where he will serve out the remaining 11 months of his sentence, having spent 13 months in detention since last year.
The judge also made adjoining orders, which included the immediate demolition of the shrine of the defendant used for Okeite purposes, located at Oba in Idemili South Local Government Area of the state, which shall be recorded and documented.
He also ordered that the defendant shall no longer practice okeite or publicly propagate such accumulation of wealth through supernatural means without any verifiable source.
“The defendant will, upon completion of his jail term, make a public statement denouncing Okeite, which shall be recorded on video and published on all his social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
“He shall become an ambassador for youth entrepreneurs and public reorientation to discourage others seeking wealth through supernatural means,” the judge ordered.
Justice Obiorah said the court also took into account the appeal by the defence counsel for the defendant to serve out whatever jail sentence in the Agunechmba facility in Awka, but said it turned down the request as the outfit has no legal powers to hold a convicted person.
“The defendant is hereby remanded in the Awka correctional facility to serve the remaining 11 months in the sentence,” the judge concluded.
Meanwhile, contrary to public speculations and reports that the native doctor was suffering from severe illness that may result in his death, his looks during sentencing today told a different story.
The native doctor looked healthy and was dressed in his popular ‘Ego di na booth’ jacket, meaning ‘money is in the booth’.
Immediately after his sentence, he moved healthily to his seat, demanding from one of his followers to know the exact sentence he got, which he appeared satisfied with, when he was told.
