Court jails Anambra native doctor Akwaokuko for 12 years, orders shrine demolition

By Benedicta Aboh

An Anambra State High Court sitting in Awka has sentenced controversial native doctor, Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwaokuko Tiwara Aki, to 12 years imprisonment.

Delivering judgment, Justice Jude Obiora found Nwangwu guilty on counts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, handing him two years imprisonment on each count.

The court, however, struck out counts 1, 2, 9 and 10 for lack of merit. The judge ruled that the sentences would run concurrently.
Justice Obiora noted that the convict had already spent 13 months in detention at the Agunechemba facility in Awka.

Consequently, he is expected to serve an additional 11 months at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Awka.

Shrine to be demolished

In addition to the jail term, the court ordered the complete demolition of Nwangwu’s shrine located in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state. The demolition, the court directed, must be recorded on video.

The judge further mandated Nwangwu to sign an undertaking renouncing okite practices and to refrain from engaging in such activities in the future.

Upon completion of his sentence, he is to serve as a youth ambassador, working to correct the impression he allegedly created among young people about acquiring wealth through unlawful means.

He was also ordered to use all his social media platforms to publicly announce that he no longer practises okite.

Fines waived

Justice Obiora disclosed that he had initially considered imposing fines of N20 million each on three additional counts in place of six-year prison terms prescribed by law.

However, he decided to waive the fines after observing what he described as genuine remorse shown by Nwangwu during his detention.

Although defence counsel appealed for the convict to serve his sentence at the Agunechemba facility, the court ruled that he must be transferred to the Awka Correctional Centre, citing the lack of proper correctional infrastructure at Agunechemba.

Meanwhile, two associates of the convict — Onyebuchi Okocha, popularly known as Onyeze Jesus, and Ekene Igboekweze, also called Eke Hit — remain in detention.