Anambra demolishes shrine as native doctor jailed 11 months
The Anambra State Government has demolished the shrine of celebrity native doctor, Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as “Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki,” located in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state, following the judgment delivered earlier on Friday at the state High Court in Awka.
The demolition of the shrine was carried out by operatives of the state security outfit, “Agunechemba,” and supervised by the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, Ben Emeakayi.
The massive shrine, containing native pots, photographs of individuals, moulded images, clothes and other objects, was dismantled piece by piece and later set ablaze.
A High Court sitting in Awka, the state capital, presided over by Justice Jude Obiora, on Friday sentenced Nwangwu to 11 months imprisonment for his involvement in ritual practices known as “oke ite” and other offences.
The sentence came after he and two other native doctors, Eke Hit and Onye Eze, were arrested and detained for various offences bordering on money rituals and preparation of charms for criminals, among others.
They were arrested in February 2025, about a month after Soludo declared war on native doctors following the signing of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, which led to the launch of the state’s “Agunechemba” and “Operation Udo-ga-chi” security outfits.
The convict was arrested because the government believed his activities were fuelling insecurity in the state.
Delivering his judgment on Friday, Justice Obiora struck out six of the 10-count charges against Nwangwu and convicted him on the remaining counts.
According to Justice Obiora, the convict had been in an awaiting trial facility under ‘Agunechemba Security Squad’ for 13 months, hence his concurrent sentence of two year was reduced to 11 months improvement.
The court also ordered that Nwangwu should denounce his ritual practices through videos which would be posted in all his social media platforms.
Part of the judgment read, “He will become an ambassador for youth re-orientation. His Oba shrine to be destroyed. He will no longer practice Okeite and won’t administer such charms.
“Upon completion of his imprisonment, he will make public statements denouncing Okeite and such charm practices.
“He will serve his imprisonment at Awka Correctional Centre.”
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