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By Christopher Oji
Friends and family of Chidozie Nwangwu, the popular native doctor known as Akwa Okuko, detained by the Anambra State government, have raised the alarm over his continuous detention without being charged to court.
His friends also claimed that his health has deteriorated and he is going blind in custody. They have, therefore, sent save-our-souls to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to come to his rescue as has been incarcerated for over eight months without being charged to court.
One of his friends, who preferred to be anonymous, recently got the chance to speak with Akwa Okuko, saying he has been held incommunicado. He detailed the native doctor’s travails, while insisting efforts should be intensified to release him on bail and his trial sped up, since he remains innocent until convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction.
She quoted Akwa Okuko as saying that his journey to detention started on February 8, 2025, when a call came from the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Onyeka Ibezim.
Nwangwu said, “He asked about my religion and how it’s being practised, and other items used for worship in my shrine, especially Okeite. I confidently told him that Okeite is simply a Pot of Fortune. I explained the features of Okeite, clarifying that it uses animal blood and forbids human blood. It ‘s used to offer prayers for progress and good health, prosperity, healing process, fertility and overcoming life obstacles, among others.
“For hours, I was subjected to mental torture and servitude, indignity, emotional disorder and depression. I was handcuffed from the Deputy Governor’s office to the office of the Anambra Vigilante Group, called Agunaechemba, in a very humiliating manner. My driver and personal staff who accompanied me were dismissed in an unruly manner. My two telephone handsets were taken away from me by the Deputy Governor, till date. I was driven to the vigilants’ office, called, Lion Building, which has been my abode till today.
“In all these, a search was conducted in my house in Oba, Anambra State, that same day without any search warrant or alongside the police or DSS. It was just the Deputy Governor, his personal aides and the vigilante group. I was humiliated in front of my family. It was pure intimidation and harassment. Nothing incriminating was found in my house. After one month, while still being held in their custody, they went for another search without taking me along.
Part of their script is to demystify Akwa Okuko tiwali aki. They went into my temple where I practise my African traditional religion and took away many objects and images, which I use for worship, for forensic analysis without me being present. Till date, I have not been notified of the result. After two weeks, they still went back to the temple to collect more samples, which include animal blood and water found in bottles. Belated interrogation by DSS took place after three months. My first arraignment was on April 5 and 12.
“Economically, my account was frozen and my businesses crippled for eight months. My properties were vandalised and it will cost me millions to get back to shape. Guests at my hotel were dispossessed of their valuables. My staffers were sent back to the unemployment market. Even my aged father was not spared. He was also detained and released after days.
“I am being held in solitary confinement. I am losing my sight and my health is constantly deteriorating. I am being held on trumped-up charges of kidnapping. I know nothing about it. I have also been a victim of IPOB kidnapping. I paid ransom to regain my freedom. No government agency helped to facilitate my release. I dare the government of Soludo to prove the kidnap case for the whole world to see.
“I am persecuted out of petty jealousy and rivalry because I was able to rise above certain expectations of some people despite my limited education and lack of sophisticated background.”
He continued: “Governor Soludo has in different fora, like during the inauguration of his campaign council and during the World Igbo Day, painted me and my religion as a bad influence on youths. How? Instead, I have used it through Facebook and other Internet platforms, social media, to propagate peace. I have used the internet for evangelism just like any other religion or preacher has done. I have not coerced, manipulated,or hypnotized any youth to believe in my religion. In fact, my religion abhors immoral lifestyles like lesbianism, transgender, homosexuality, etc. All these are aberrants to my religion.
“Soludo has turned himself into an investigator,prosecutor and judge in my case through his utterances despite these things being subjudice.”
Meanwhile, in Anambra State, many residents believe Akwa Okuko has immensely contributed to the socio-economic development of the state.
Mr. Ebuka Uche, an Anambra-based businessman, and Princess Njideka Ndiwe, a lawyer, socialite and politician, said, “Outside his religious practice, Akwa Okuko is a key player in the hospitality industry where he has a couple of hotels. He’s an employer of labour and pays his taxes to the state, which invariably contributes to the development of the state. In other words, he’s not an economic nuisance. He has three hotels with a staff strength of about 80.”
“He has also done a lot of corporate social responsibility. He has tarred roads, he gives them water,and placed many indigent people on scholarship. He empowers youths yearly.
During Governor Soludo’s recent campaign to his hometown of Oba, the youths came out en masse soliciting for his release.”
Legal experts are also disturbed by the clampdown on adherents of traditional religion in Anambra State.
A prominent Lagos-based lawyer, Francis Edo Obumse, who quoted relevant constitutional provisions, faulted the arrest and detention of Nwangwu, insisting that the law under which he was being held was an aberration.
“The Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025, passed into law by the House of Assembly in February 2025, clearly undermines the Constitution of Nigeria by eroding the freedom of religion and association, as enshrined in the Constitution.
Section 18 of the said obnoxious law seeks to regulate practices of Okeite and Ezenwanyi, which are part of and practices of African traditional religion.
“Invariably, Section 18 of the said law borders on the fundamental right of freedom of religion and association as enshrined in the Constitution, contained in Sections 38 and 40, and is in conflict with the same. The said law, Section 18, is, to the extent of the conflict, null and void.
“The trumped-up charge of kidnapping and the list of witnesses as contained does not have the name of the alleged kidnapped person (Onyebuchi Okocha, aka Onyeze Jesus) as a witness for the prosecution. This is a clear case of victimisation and mischief orchestrated by the government of Professor C.C. Soludo in Anambra State.”
Another legal practitioner stated that Section 38 of the Nigerian Constitution defines human rights freedom alongside religious freedom: “Nigeria is a secular state.The three major types of religion in Nigeria are African traditional religion, Christian religion and Islamic religion, among several others. Any attempt to emasculate any individual or groups from practising their religion is denying them their fundamental human rights.
“The Constitution also expressly guarantees one’s choice of religion without interference by any state actor, especially if it operates within the ambit of the law. This throws light on the plight of traditional worshippers in Anambra State, where the governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, audaciously declared Anambra a Christian State. He is mischievously preying on the vulnerable and less educated indigenes of Anambra State. It is, to say the least, inhuman.
“Note that Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution explicitly states that every person has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to change one’s religion or belief and to manifest and propagate it through worship, teaching, practice and observance. Secularism is a core principle, meaning the government of Nigeria and its states are prohibited from adopting any religion as a state religion.”
Nwangwu was arrested on February 8, 2025, by the Anambra State Vigilante group, popularly known as Agunaechemba. He has been held without prosecution, a situation that has now sparked outrage and a passionate appeal to the Anambra State governor Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo to hasten his release on grounds of human rights violations and worsening health conditions.
