Soludo frees jailed Akwa Okuko tiwara aki

Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, has exercised his constitutional powers under the Prerogative of Mercy to grant remission to Mr. Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwa Okuko tiwara aki, effectively bringing his jail term to an end.

Nwangwu, who was reputed for the practice of okite, a form of money ritual, was convicted in February 2026 on several counts of violating the Anambra State Homeland Security Law.

He was sentenced to two years imprisonment following a plea bargain between the Anambra State Government and Nwangwu. His sentence was originally expected to end next month, but the remission granted by Governor Soludo has resulted in his discharge.

Governor Soludo announced the remission on Friday during a visit to correctional centres in Anambra State, including the Onitsha and Amawbia Correctional Centres.

The Onitsha Correctional Centre currently houses about 739 inmates, making it the largest correctional facility in the state, while the Amawbia facility accommodates about 602 inmates despite having been built for only 280 inmates.

Welcoming the governor at Amawbia, the State Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ezinne Onuoha, expressed appreciation to him for the visit.

Soludo said his visit was part of his routine engagement with inmates and correctional facilities across the state.

“This is part of my routine visit. After I was sworn in, I visited the Correctional Centres. I have come to see you just to be sure you are okay,” the governor told the inmates.

The governor subsequently toured the facilities before holding a town hall meeting with some of the inmates, many of whom have spent years awaiting trial.

Cases involving murder, child trafficking, robbery, theft and land-related disputes were among those highlighted during the interaction.

Soludo noted that Anambra has an unusually high number of court cases, saying, “Anambra has the second highest number of cases in Nigeria.”

He urged the inmates to use their time in the correctional centres to acquire skills and reflect on their lives, stressing that the ultimate purpose of incarceration should include rehabilitation and positive transformation.

“The purpose of being here is so you become better human beings. If you finish staying here and do not become a new person, you have missed the idea,” he said.

The governor assured the inmates that his administration would not abandon them, emphasizing that they remain citizens with a role to play in building a better society.

“We will never forget anyone. We are all citizens, and we all have a responsibility to make this place a livable city. The objective is to make Anambra and Nigeria better. Society will get better if people become responsible citizens,” Soludo said.

He also encouraged inmates to take advantage of the state government’s plea-bargain initiative to facilitate the speedy resolution of their cases.

The governor disclosed that a committee headed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, had been constituted to review some cases and recommend inmates who may qualify for pardon or remission next month.

Governor Soludo was accompanied on the visits by members of his administration and other officials.