An Awka High Court has sentenced Onyebuchi Okocha, popularly known as Onyeze Jesus, one of several fake native doctors arrested in Anambra State, to six years in prison with a N20 million fine, as seven suspected fake pastors arrested in the state last month were separately ordered remanded in custody pending trial.
Delivering judgment, Justice Jude Obiora said Okocha admitted being the person in a viral video and the owner of social media handles where videos claimed he had the power to make people wealthy, but ruled that his specific claims of ritual murder or money doubling could not be proven, since no proof or witnesses testified to having benefited from the practices. Okocha, charged under the Anambra State Homeland Security Law for involvement in money ritual, contrary to Section 18 of the law, had been in detention for about a year and six months following his arrest. In an emotional moment, he broke down in tears and knelt in the witness box pleading for mercy. My Lord, please temper justice with mercy because this is my first offence and this is the first time that I am having a court case, he said, since February last year that I was arrested and have been in custody, I do not know the whereabouts of my wife and my twin children who depend on me as the breadwinner, also since I have been in custody, three widows who depend on me have all died due to the fact that there is no one taking care of them.
Separately, another suspected fake native doctor, Ekene Igboekweze, known as Eke Hit, had his matter adjourned to September 26 after counsel for both the defence and prosecution submitted written addresses to the court on the same day.
