The arraignment of Mazi Godwin Kanu Idei at the Magistrate Court Umuahia for alleged conspiracy, impersonation and conduct likely to breach public peace over the traditional ruler tussle in Arochukwu Kingdom, Arochukwu LGA of Abia State, has been adjourned sine die (indefinitely).
Kanu Idei was one of the two claimants to the Eze ARO stool in Arochukwu Kingdom, until January 26, when the Abia government announced HRM Eze Eberechukwu Oji as the Eze ARO IX.
The trial Magistrate, Nkwachi Onwutuebe of the Magistrate Court 9 Umuahia, announced the indefinite adjournment on Friday, following an application made by the defendant challenging the legibility of his arraignment.
When the matter came up on Friday, 2nd February 2024, Counsel to the Abia State government, Earnest Ibelegbu told the court that the case had been taken over by the Abia State government from the police.
Counsel to the defendant, (Godwin Kanu Idei), Jude Nwokoro said the case was supposed to go on but they (defendant) filed a motion before the High Court for the judiciary to review the process that brought Godwin Kanu to court to stand for trial.
Consequent upon that, the court adjourned the matter sine die.
He explained that they want the High Court to strike out the criminal charges against Kanu because the charges were incompetent.
Kanu was crowned as the Ninth King of the Arochukwu Kingdom on October 20, 2023, by the traditional ruler of Ibom Isii, Kanu Nwa Kanu. This sparked controversy in the kingdom.
However, in mid-November 2023, the Royal Head of Arochukwu Kingdom, Oji Oji and Kanu Okoro, another palace official, announced in a statement that Eberechukwu Oji, a prince of the kingdom, had been selected as the new monarch for the kingdom.
On January 26, 2024, the Abia State government presented a staff of office to the newly selected Eze Aro IX (the ninth), HRM Eberechukwu Oji after the panel constituted by Abia State government affirmed him as the duly qualified person to wear the crown.
