A High Court in Anambra State has sentenced controversial spiritual leader and self-acclaimed prophet, Onyebuchi Okocha, popularly known as Onye Eze Jesus, to six years imprisonment and imposed a ₦20 million fine after finding him guilty under the Anambra Homeland Security Law.

The judgment forms part of the Anambra State Government’s ongoing crackdown on alleged ritual practices, fraudulent spiritual activities, and the preparation of charms believed to aid criminal activities, including kidnapping and internet fraud.

The case stemmed from the state’s prosecution of several high-profile native doctors arrested during the security operation launched in February 2025.

Delivering judgment, the trial judge held that 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.

According to the court: “Any person who practices prohibited spiritual activities or claims to possess powers capable of producing wealth through illegal means is liable to the penalties prescribed under the law.”

The conviction is widely viewed as another major milestone in Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s campaign against criminality and ritual-related practices in the state.

Authorities insist the enforcement exercise is aimed at dismantling networks allegedly encouraging criminal activities under the guise of spiritual services, while supporters of the affected clerics and native doctors have continued to question the government’s approach.

The case has generated widespread public attention and is expected to spark further debate over the balance between public security, religious freedom, and traditional spiritual practices in Nigeria.

Mary Habila: Rights group storms National Assembly with petition, demands probe of death in Umahi’s house

The death of Miss Mary Habila has been taken before the National Assembly, with a rights advocacy group petitioning the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions to order an independent, impartial and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her demise.

The petition, submitted by the Access to Justice and Human Rights Initiative and signed by its Founder, Yusuf Aliyu Maigari, urged lawmakers to ensure that relevant authorities conduct a professional, evidence-based investigation into the case.

The group alleged that Habila died in the residence of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, in Uburu, Ebonyi State, a development it said had generated widespread public concern and heightened calls for accountability.

According to the petition, the request is not intended to indict any individual but to ensure that the facts are established through lawful investigative and judicial processes.

“Hence, we respectfully request that every credible lead be investigated thoroughly and impartially,” the petition stated.

The organisation called on investigators to launch a comprehensive criminal investigation, secure and preserve all forensic, documentary, digital and electronic evidence, and obtain statements from everyone with material information relevant to the case.

It also demanded independent forensic and medical examinations where necessary, protection of witnesses from intimidation or harassment, and assurance that no individual receives preferential treatment on account of political office, wealth or influence.

The rights group further urged investigators to make the outcome of the investigation public in line with applicable laws and prosecute anyone against whom sufficient admissible evidence establishes criminal responsibility.

It also requested that reports circulating in the public domain concerning the deceased’s employment, movements and relationship with any individual be verified through documentary evidence rather than speculation.

Describing the case as a test of Nigeria’s commitment to justice and the rule of law, the group said the country’s constitutional and international human rights obligations require a transparent and credible investigation.

“Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. A transparent investigation is essential to maintaining public confidence in the administration of justice,” the petition added.

Copies of the petition were forwarded to the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, the Police Service Commission, UN Women Nigeria, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and several other international human rights organisations and diplomatic missions. (The Sun News)

The family of late Mary Habila has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, over the alleged refusal of the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police to release her body for burial more than two weeks after her death.

In a petition dated July 17, 2026, and submitted through their solicitors, K.A. Yusuf & Associates, the family accused the Ebonyi State Police Command of unlawfully withholding Habila’s remains despite their compliance with all legal requirements for its release.

The petition, addressed to the IGP at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, stated that Mary Habila, a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, died on June 27, 2026, under circumstances that were reported to the police.

Since then, the body has remained in a designated mortuary under the authority of the Ebonyi State Police Command.

According to the family’s lawyers, repeated applications, personal visits and full compliance with every lawful requirement communicated by the police have failed to secure the release of the corpse for burial.

The petition described the continued detention of the body as arbitrary and oppressive, arguing that it has denied the family the opportunity to perform customary and religious burial rites while inflicting emotional, psychological, financial and cultural hardship.

“It is our client’s respectful position that the continued detention of his daughter’s corpse without lawful justification is arbitrary, oppressive, and inconsistent with the principles of justice, fairness and respect for human dignity,” the petition stated.

The family further expressed a loss of confidence in the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, urging the IGP to intervene.

Specifically, the petition requested the IGP to transfer the case from the Ebonyi State Police Command to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, direct the immediate release of Mary Habila’s body for burial, order disciplinary or administrative action against any officer found to have acted unlawfully, and issue any further directives necessary to ensure justice is served.

The lawyers also urged the police authorities to communicate the legal basis for withholding the body and provide a timeline for concluding investigations instead of keeping the remains indefinitely.

The petition followed  growing public attention surrounding Habila’s death, with her family insisting on the release of her remains.

The family had earlier said they suspect no foul play in her death and preferred an end to police investigations.