Court jails Anambra native doctor six years, fines him ₦20m

A native doctor in Nigeria, Onyebuchi Okocha, widely known as “Onyeze Jesus,” has been sentenced to six years in prison and fined ₦20 million by the Anambra State High Court. The conviction stems from charges under the Anambra Homeland Security Law, specifically for promoting wealth through supernatural means on social media.

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Individuals who claim supernatural powers capable of making people wealthy through prohibited practices or preparing charms outlawed by the Anambra Homeland Security Law are liable to imprisonment and financial penalties.

Justice Jude Obiora found Okocha guilty of misleading the public by claiming to possess supernatural powers capable of generating wealth through unlawful spiritual practices. The court acknowledged that Okocha admitted to being the person in viral videos and owning the social media accounts used to promote these claims. The judge emphasized that the defendant propagated the idea that wealth could be acquired supernaturally rather than through lawful work.

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My Lord please tamper justice with mercy because this is my first offence and this is the first time that I am having a court case.

However, Okocha was discharged on two other counts, including allegations of ritual killings and money-doubling schemes, as the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence or witnesses to substantiate these claims. His lawyer indicated plans to study the judgment's Certified True Copy before deciding on the next steps, noting that the sentence could potentially run concurrently.

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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 bread winner.

During the sentencing, Okocha expressed remorse and pleaded for leniency, highlighting his status as a first-time offender and the sole breadwinner for his wife and twin children. He also mentioned that three widows who depended on him had died since his arrest and detention in February 2025.

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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.