Peter Mbah transmits bill to regulate native doctors, bans ritual practices in Enugu

In the wake of the shocking revelations surrounding Onyeka Obu, also known as Ezeani, the native doctor accused of burying victims including a pregnant woman alive for money rituals, the Enugu State Government has taken swift legislative action to clamp down on illegitimate spiritual practices and related criminality.

Governor Peter Mbah on Wednesday, June 4, transmitted an Executive Bill to the Enugu State House of Assembly titled “Maintenance of Internal Security, Vigilance and Order.”

The bill seeks to outlaw practices like money rituals (popularly known as okite), criminal bulletproof charms (odeshi), and the misuse of spiritual authority for unlawful gains.

Under the proposed law, native doctors, herbalists, “ezenwanyi”, spiritualists, and other traditional practitioners must register with a designated state agency and failure to comply would attract fines ranging from N1 million to N5 million, or up to two years in prison or both.

The bill further prescribes that anyone caught administering charms or rituals to aid crime or acquire wealth supernaturally faces up to six years imprisonment or a N5 million fine even as the bill also places the burden of proof on anyone claiming supernatural powers during an investigation.

The legislation further criminalises the use of religious or spiritual sites for ritual killings, kidnapping, or any form of crime, prescribing penalties of up to 20 years in prison without the option of a fine while property used in such crimes will be forfeited to the state.