‘Oke Ite’: Anambra Native Doctor Eke Hit Gets 12 Years In Prison
A popular Anambra native doctor known for promoting wealth charms on social media has been sentenced to 12 years in prison over offences linked to his activities.
The Anambra State High Court, presided over by Justice Jude Obiorah, sentenced Ekene Igboekweze, popularly known as “Eke Hit”, to six years each on two counts.
The sentences will run concurrently, without the option of a fine, with the court considering the period he had already spent in detention.
Igboekweze, from Okija in Ihiala Local Government Area, was arrested in February 2025 by Agunechemba security personnel alongside two other native doctors after the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025 came into force.
The law prohibits native doctors from claiming to make people wealthy through “Oke Ite” and similar rituals, as well as preparing charms for criminals.
The convicts were arraigned in April 2025 on charges including conspiracy, kidnapping, preparation of protective charms for criminals and money rituals.
Igboekweze maintained during his defence that he was a registered herbalist who used herbs and roots in his practice.
He said videos used against him were old recordings made before the new law took effect.
Justice Obiorah found the prosecution had proved the first two counts beyond reasonable doubt, while resolving the third count in favour of the defendant.
Before sentencing, Igboekweze pleaded for mercy, saying he had learnt his lesson and appealing to the court to consider his family and newborn triplets whom he said he had not seen.
His counsel, Chief Emmanuel Egbunonu, said the court had shown consideration by waiving the N40 million fine attached to the two convictions.
Counsel from the Anambra State Ministry of Justice, Barrister Fabian Okeke, said the judgment was necessary to protect society from practices that encourage dangerous trends and undermine productive enterprise.
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