A Magistrate Court in Umuahia, Abia State, has adjourned sine die (indefinitely), the trial of Prince Godwin Kanu Idei for alleged conspiracy, impersonation and conduct likely to breach public peace over the traditional rulership tussle in Arochukwu Kingdom of Arochukwu LGA.
Kanu Idei was one of the two claimants to the Eze Aro stool, until January 26, when the Abia government formally recognised HRM Eberechukwu Oji as the Eze Aro IX.
The trial Magistrate, Nkwachi Onwutuebe of Magistrate Court 9 Umuahia, announced the indefinite adjournment on Friday, following an application by the defendant challenging the legibility of his arraignment.
When the matter came up on Friday, February 2, 2024, counsel for 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 for 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 a judicial review of the process that brought Idei to court to stand trial.
He explained that they want the High Court to strike out the criminal charges against Kanu because the charges are incompetent.
Consequent upon the submission, the court adjourned the matter sine die.
Idei was crowned as the Ninth King of the Arochukwu Kingdom on October 20, 2023, by the traditional ruler of Ibom Isii, Kanu Nwa Kanu. That sparked controversy in the kingdom.
In mid-November 2023, the palace had announced through a statement that Prince Eberechukwu Oji 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 government affirmed him as the qualified person to wear the crown.
* Media Report