Popular Anambra Native Doctor ‘Eke Hit’ Jailed 12 Years Over ‘Oke Ite’, Criminal Charms

By Our Reporter

A popular Anambra native doctor, Ekene Igboekweze, popularly known as “Eke Hit,” has been sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison by the Anambra State High Court for offences linked to the preparation of protective charms for criminals and related activities.

Justice Jude Obiorah, who delivered the judgment, sentenced Igboekweze to six years’ imprisonment on count one and another six years on count two.

The sentences are to run concurrently, without an option of fine, with the court taking into consideration the period he had already spent in detention.

Eke Hit, a native of Umuofor Village in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, became widely known on social media for promoting charms purportedly capable of attracting wealth, popularly referred to as “Oke Ite,” among other traditional practices.

He was arrested in February 2025 by personnel of Agunechemba, alongside two other popular native doctors, following the signing of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025 by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

The law prohibits native doctors from claiming to make people wealthy through “Oke Ite” and other rituals, as well as preparing charms for criminals.

Igboekweze and the other native doctors were arraigned before the court on April 4, 2025, on charges bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, preparation of protective charms for criminals and money rituals.

During his defence, Eke Hit told the court that he is a registered herbalist and a member of the Odinani Okija Traditional Association.

He maintained that his practice involves the use of herbs and roots, adding that the viral videos used against him were old content created before the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025 came into effect.

In his judgment, Justice Obiorah held that the prosecution had proved counts one and two beyond reasonable doubt, while count three was resolved in favour of the defendant.

Before sentencing, Eke Hit pleaded for forgiveness and urged the court to consider his family, particularly his newborn triplets whom he said he had not yet seen.

Appealing for leniency, his wife, Elizabeth, and his half-brother, Chief Mike, testified to his character and good conduct.

They described him as a kind-hearted person and said he was the only son of his mother in a polygamous family.

Speaking to journalists after the proceedings, counsel to Eke Hit, Chief Emmanuel Egbunonu, said the court had shown consideration by waiving the ₦40 million fine attached to the two charges.

“The court was considerate in waiving the ₦40 million fine attached to the two charges,” Egbunonu said.

Also speaking, Barrister Fabian Okeke of the Anambra State Ministry of Justice said the judgment was aimed at protecting society from practices he described as dangerous trends capable of undermining creativity and encouraging people to abandon meaningful economic ventures.

The conviction comes amid the Anambra State Government’s broader enforcement of its homeland security legislation against criminal activities and practices associated with money rituals and the preparation of charms for criminals.

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