A High Court in Awka, Anambra State, has sentenced controversial celebrity native doctor, Chidozie Nwangwu, widely known as Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki, to 11 months in prison following a plea bargain with the state government.
SUNTV Global gathered that the judgment was delivered by Justice Jude Obiora after both parties reached a mutual agreement that resolved the case without a full trial.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the court session, the defendant’s counsel, Sylvester Iwuoba, confirmed that the sentence resulted from a negotiated settlement.
According to him, the ruling is a consent judgment, meaning both the defense and the government agreed to the terms beforehand.
“This was a plea bargain arrangement. We signed the agreement with the government, and they kept their part by accepting an 11-month sentence. Since it was mutually agreed, there is no basis for an appeal,” he explained.
Akwa Okuko’s legal troubles began in February 2025 when operatives of the Anambra security outfit, Agunechemba, arrested him in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area.
Authorities accused him of involvement in the controversial “Oke Ite” ritual practice, allegedly used to fortify youths engaged in kidnapping and other crimes.
He was later arraigned alongside two other native doctors on charges including conspiracy to commit kidnapping and obtaining by fraud.
The arrest was part of a broader crackdown launched by the state government after the enactment of the Anambra Homeland Security Law, 2025, which prescribes stiff penalties for traditional practitioners accused of preparing charms linked to criminal activities.
Under the law, offenders risk up to six years imprisonment, a ₦20 million fine, or both. However, the plea bargain significantly reduced the sentence in this case.
Akwa Okuko, who gained widespread attention on social media for promoting alleged spiritual wealth-making practices, remains one of the most high-profile figures affected by the state’s ongoing campaign against crime-linked ritual activities.
SUNTV Global reports that the case has sparked continued public debate over the balance between traditional religious practices and modern security enforcement in Anambra.
