Barring any last-minute hitch, the Anambra State Government will today arraign three top native doctors before an Anambra State High Court sitting at Awka for alleged involvement in criminal activities.

The suspects are Chidozie Nwangwu popularly known as “Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki”, Onyebuchi Okocha known as “Onye Eze” and Ekene Igboezekwe popularly known as “Eke Hit”.

They are charged in suit Numbers A/41C2025, A/40C2025 and A/42C2025 respectively with alleged claims of possessing supernatural powers to make money, stagnate destiny as well as conspiracy to commit felony to wit kidnapping and obtaining by fraud.

The suspects were arrested in February, about a month after the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, declared war on native doctors following the signing of the Anambra State Homeland Security law, which birthed the launch of the state “Agunechemba” and “Operation Udo-ga-chi” security outfits.

They were arrested following suspicion that their activities were fueling the rising insecurity in the state which has reportedly reduced since the state government introduced the “Agunechemba” security outfit. Agunechemba operatives arrested the native doctors in February at their various locations in the state. They have been in detention since then.

Opinions were however divided on the arrests, as the development triggered a series of protests by traditional religion practitioners in the state who expressed their displeasure that the action was targeted at them.

An earlier attempt to arraign the suspects met a brick wall as their lawyers argued that they were not properly served with the charges.

Their arraignment followed massive criticism over alleged arbitrary detention of the accused for over 60 days without trial or access to family members.

The Prosecution Counsel, Mr. F. C. Okeke, told the court during the aborted arraignment court session that the charges against the suspects had been served on them and that they were ready to proceed with the case.

But the Defence Counsel took turns to inform the court that the processes were not served in good time to enable them to respond.

According to one of the defence attorneys, Mr. Remigus Okoli, “the state government came with a plot to remand the defendants, but proper service and giving the accused adequate time to prepare for defence are very fundamental as enshrined in the constitution and relevant laws of the state.”

Okoli expressed confidence that “the law is on their side in defending the accused.”

The charges were consequently not read in detail as a result of the development.

The presiding Judge, Justice Jude Obiora, adjourned the cases to today and ordered that the suspects should be returned to Agunechemba detention facility pending proper service of processes.