A High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, has sentenced popular native doctor, Chidozie Nwangwu, widely known as Akwaokuko Tiwara Aki, to 12 years prison term. Justice Jude Obiora convicted him on six of the charges brought before the court, specifically counts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, and imposed a two-year sentence for each, but ordered that all the terms run concurrently. Counts 1, 2, 9, and 10 were dismissed by the court.
As Nwangwu has already spent 13 months in custody at the Agunechemba facility in Awka, the judge ruled that he will serve only 11 more months at the Awka Correctional Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The judgment also included non-custodial orders: the controversial shrine in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area, is to be completely demolished, and the process must be recorded on video. The court said Akwaokuko Tiwara Aki must sign a pledge to stop practising oke-ite and, after his release, work as a youth ambassador to correct the impression his activities created among young people about gaining wealth through illegal or supernatural means. He was also instructed to use his social media platforms to announce that he no longer engages in oke-ite practices.
Although the judge initially considered imposing fines of ₦20 million on three additional counts (which would have replaced six-year prison terms prescribed by law), he waived these fines after noting Nwangwu’s remorse during detention.
The court rejected a request from the defence that Akwaokuko serves his sentence at the Agunechemba facility, stating that it lacks a proper correctional infrastructure.
Meanwhile, two of his associates, Onyebuchi Okocha (Onyeze Jesus) and Ekene Igboekweze (Eke Hit) are still being held in custody.
