Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
A High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, has sentenced popular native doctor Chidozie Nwangwu, widely known as Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki, to a custodial term of 11 months following his conviction on charges linked to the promotion of ritual practices alleged to encourage criminal activity. The judgment also ordered the complete demolition of his shrine in Oba community, Idemili South Local Government Area, marking one of the most controversial enforcement actions under the state’s Homeland Security legal framework.
The case is rooted in the Anambra State Government’s intensified campaign against ritual-related crime, particularly practices locally described as “Okeite,” which authorities associate with sudden wealth rituals, alleged spiritual protection for criminal actors, and the commercialization of supernatural powers. The administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo has argued that such practices contribute indirectly to insecurity by promoting beliefs that encourage kidnapping, fraud, and violent acquisition of wealth.
Justice Jude Obiorah delivered the ruling after the defendant entered a plea bargain agreement with the prosecution. Court documents indicate that Nwangwu had spent approximately thirteen months in custody before the judgment was delivered, meaning that the remaining custodial sentence amounted to about eleven months after credit was given for time already served.
The prosecution had accused Nwangwu of preparing and promoting charms believed to facilitate criminal behaviour. Authorities argued that some of the services advertised at the shrine were used by individuals seeking protection while engaging in illicit activities, though the defence maintained that the defendant’s operations were part of traditional spiritual practice rather than criminal facilitation.
During proceedings, the court also imposed non-custodial behavioural conditions intended to reinforce what the state described as social reorientation objectives. Nwangwu is expected to publicly renounce ritual practices associated with criminality after completing his prison term and participate in youth reorientation advocacy aimed at discouraging young people from pursuing wealth-acquisition rituals that could expose them to criminal networks.
The judge ordered the demolition of the shrine complex located in Oba community. Security personnel supervised the destruction of the structure, and witnesses reported that parts of the compound were set ablaze following the dismantling process. Objects believed to be associated with ritual activities were destroyed during the enforcement exercise. State authorities described the demolition as a necessary step to ensure that the location would not continue to function as a centre for activities considered harmful to public safety.
The legal basis for the prosecution was the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, enacted as part of the government’s broader strategy to address insecurity linked to ritual killings, kidnapping syndicates, and organized criminal operations in parts of the South-East. Officials maintain that the law does not target traditional religion itself but rather criminal conduct disguised as spiritual practice. Supporters of the policy argue that the commercialization of supernatural claims has been exploited by criminal groups to recruit young people and legitimize violent acts.
The case has generated intense public discussion across Anambra State and other parts of Nigeria. Some residents welcomed the verdict, viewing it as a strong signal that the government is determined to confront ritual-linked criminality that has created fear within communities. Others expressed concern about the destruction of what they consider a traditional spiritual site, warning that such actions may deepen cultural tensions in regions where indigenous spiritual systems remain socially significant.
Community reactions in Oba were mixed following the burning of the shrine. While some residents said the action would help deter individuals involved in suspicious wealth-seeking rituals, others cautioned against mob-like responses to court decisions. Local traditional groups urged authorities to ensure that enforcement operations are conducted with respect for cultural sensitivities to prevent escalation of grievances.
Security agencies have launched investigations to determine the individuals responsible for setting the shrine on fire after the court ruling. Although authorities have not officially linked the fire to any organised group, preliminary community accounts suggest that unidentified persons entered the compound at night and ignited structures within the premises. The police have deployed patrol units to the area to maintain order and protect nearby residents.
The Akwa Okuko case reflects the broader security strategy adopted by Anambra State, which has established specialized operational structures to combat kidnapping, ritual killings, and violent crime. The creation of the Agunechemba security outfit was part of that initiative, designed to provide intelligence-driven policing support in communities considered vulnerable to criminal infiltration.
Legal analysts observing the case have highlighted its potential precedent value in defining the boundary between traditional spiritual practice and conduct considered criminal under state security statutes. Some constitutional experts argue that future litigation may test the extent to which regional governments can regulate spiritual enterprises without infringing on religious freedom protections guaranteed under national law.
Human rights commentators have also called for careful monitoring of enforcement methods, emphasizing that counter-crime operations should avoid collective punishment or destruction of property without due judicial authorization. Government officials have responded by stating that the demolition was executed under court order and supervised by security personnel.
Stone Reporters note that the Akwa Okuko sentencing represents a significant moment in Anambra’s ongoing campaign against ritual-associated crime narratives that have increasingly shaped public security discourse in southeastern Nigeria. While supporters of the policy view the judgment as a deterrent against exploitative spiritual commercialization, critics fear the social and cultural consequences of aggressive enforcement measures.
As the defendant prepares to serve the remaining custodial sentence at the Awka Correctional Centre, attention is expected to shift to how the state will implement the reorientation conditions attached to the judgment. The case is likely to remain a reference point in Nigeria’s evolving debate over security policy, cultural practice, and the legal limits of spiritual entrepreneurship.
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