Money Ritual: Court Adjourns Trial As Anambra Govt Fails To Produce Three Native Doctors
The Anambra State High Court sitting in Awka on Friday adjourned the trial of three native doctors charged with involvement in money rituals and preparation of charms for suspected criminals, following their absence in court.
The accused — Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki, Onyebuchi Okocha, alias Onyeze Jesus, and Ekene Igboekweze, also known as Eke Hit — were nowhere to be found when the matter came up before Justice Jude Obiorah.
The trio, who had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the Anambra State Government, are facing prosecution over alleged activities involving ritual practices and the production of charms used by suspected criminals in the state.
The state’s Homeland Security outfit, Operation Agunechemba, had arrested the defendants in March, following a clampdown ordered by Governor Chukwuma Soludo as part of efforts to curb the growing rate of ritual-related crimes in Anambra.
When the case resumed on Friday, neither the defendants nor representatives from the prosecuting team were present.
The defence counsel expressed surprise at the development, telling the court that they were not briefed on the whereabouts of the accused.
“We were not even informed,” one of the lawyers told the court, expressing concern over the prosecution’s failure to produce the defendants.
Justice Obiorah, in a brief ruling, adjourned the case to 20 June 2025 for continuation of trial.
He warned against unnecessary delays, noting that the court expects full cooperation from all parties moving forward.
Efforts by journalists to obtain comments from the prosecution team proved abortive, as they declined to speak to the press after the proceedings.
The case is one of several ongoing under the auspices of Operation Udogachi, a state-backed initiative targeting ritual killings, occult practices, and other related offences, which the government says are fuelling violent crimes in various communities.
Governor Soludo has consistently maintained that the government would not relent in ridding the state of what he described as “dangerous, misleading practices masquerading as tradition.”dition.”
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
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