A High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, has convicted and sentenced popular native doctor, Onyebuchi Okocha, popularly known as Onyeze Jesus, to six years’ imprisonment for offences related to fraudulent spiritual practices.
The court also imposed a fine of ₦20million on the controversial spiritualist.
The Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr. Law Mefor, confirmed the judgement to journalists on Friday, describing it as another milestone in the state’s campaign against criminality and deceptive spiritual practices.
Onyeze Jesus was prosecuted alongside other prominent native doctors, including Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki, and Ekene Igbonekwu, also known as Eke Hit, following the Anambra State Government’s crackdown on alleged ritual practices, fake spiritual claims and activities believed to promote crime.
According to the state government, the prosecution was anchored on the provisions of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, enacted by the administration of Governor Charles Soludo to combat criminality allegedly linked to ritual practices and the promotion of wealth through supernatural means.
The law specifically prohibits the promotion and performance of practices commonly referred to as “Oke-Ite” and “Ezenwanyi”, which allegedly promise wealth and success through mystical or ritual means.
Under Sections 18 and 19 of the law, anyone found guilty of deceiving members of the public with claims of supernatural wealth creation or preparing charms intended to aid criminal activities is liable to a maximum sentence of six years’ imprisonment, a fine of ₦20 million, or both.
While his co-defendant, Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki, entered into a plea bargain with the state in February and received a concurrent two-year sentence, Onyeze Jesus proceeded to trial and was handed the maximum statutory punishment prescribed under the law.
Speaking after the judgement, Commissioner Mefor reiterated the Soludo administration’s commitment to sanitising the state by prosecuting individuals who exploit religion, spirituality or traditional practices to encourage criminality.
He said the government would continue to enforce the Homeland Security Law without fear or favour, stressing that fake pastors, self-acclaimed prophets and rogue native doctors found culpable under the law would be prosecuted.
The commissioner also recalled that the state had previously demolished shrines and properties linked to individuals convicted or accused of promoting ritual-related crimes as part of its campaign against insecurity.
Following Friday’s judgement, Onyeze Jesus was remanded at the Awka Correctional Centre to begin serving his prison sentence.
The prosecution of Onyeze Jesus followed a sweeping crackdown launched by the Soludo administration in late 2024 and intensified in 2025 against native doctors and spiritualists accused of promoting ritual practices, “money-making” charms and criminal activities.
During the operation, the Anambra State government arrested several high-profile native doctors, shut down multiple shrines across the state and demolished properties allegedly used for criminal and ritual activities.
Among those arrested were Chidozie Nwangwu (Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki), Ekene Igbonekwu (Eke Hit) and Onyeze Jesus, all of whom were accused of making claims capable of encouraging criminality and misleading members of the public.
Governor Soludo has repeatedly maintained that while the government respects traditional religion and lawful cultural practices, it would not tolerate individuals who exploit spiritual beliefs to promote fraud, kidnapping, internet fraud, ritual killings or other criminal activities.
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