Former Catholic Knight Arrested in Nnewi Over Ritual Street Cleansing

​Months after sparking widespread controversy by dramatically renouncing his faith, Sir James Louis Okoye—formerly a Knight of St. John International popularly known as Ebube Anaedo—has been arrested by local vigilantes in Nnewi, Anambra State.

​Okoye was picked up on Saturday after drawing large crowds while marching through the town’s streets dressed in bright red attire. Witnesses reported that he had fresh palm fronds positioned between his lips and carried a ritual bell, openly performing what he declared to be a spiritual cleansing of Nnewi land.

​The former knight first made headlines in January during the high-profile consecration and official opening of Our Lady of Assumpta Catholic Church (Cathedral) in Nnewi. In a viral protest that stunned churchgoers and dignitaries, Okoye stripped off his shoes and knighthood hat inside the sacred grounds, shouting, “Ifeanyi Ubah ndo” and performing a ritual dusting of his shoes. He publicly decried what he termed a deliberate omission and lack of recognition by the church toward the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, whom he credited with funding and driving the cathedral project to near-completion before his death. Concluding his tirade with the local declaration “Akachaam,” he announced his immediate departure from Christianity.

ADVERTISEMENT

​Following months away from the public eye, Saturday’s dramatic reappearance on the streets quickly triggered public panic and curiosity, prompting alerts to local security operatives.

​In a circulating video from a vigilante interrogation room, Okoye sat on the floor, unbothered and unapologetic, defending his actions. He insisted that the community had suffered spiritual desecration and that his street purification rites were essential for the town’s well-being. He further claimed to have secured the backing of Nnewi’s traditional institution for the exercise, a claim local authorities have yet to verify.

​The incident has reignited heavy online debates, with many social media users expressing concern over his mental well-being and questioning the trajectory of the once-prominent church knight. Law enforcement and local security units are yet to formally announce charges or disclose his current place of detention.