The arraignment of Mazi Godwin Kanu Idei at the Magistrate Court, Umuahia, the Abia State Capital, for alleged conspiracy, impersonation and conducts capable of causing a breach of public peace during the traditional ruler tussle in Arochukwu Kingdom in Arochukwu LGA of Abia State was, on Friday, February 2nd, 2024 adjourned (sine die) indefinitely.
The Trial Magistrate, Nkwachi Onwutuebe of the Magistrate Court 9 Umuahia, announced the indefinite adjournment following an application made by the defendant challenging the legibility of his arraignment.
Kanu was crowned as the Ninth King of the Arochukwu Kingdom on 20 October 2023 by the traditional ruler of Ibom Isii, Kanu Nwa Kanu. This sparked controversy in the kingdom, after Prince Eberechukwu Orji, had emerged victorious in the selection process.
Recall that in mid-November 2023, The Royal Head of Arochukwu Kingdom, Oji Oji and Kanu Okoro, another palace official, announced in a statement that Eberechukwu Orji, a Prince of the Okennachi kindred, had been selected as the new Monarch for the kingdom.
However, Abia State Government on Thursday January 26th, 2024, presented a staff of office to the newly selected Eze Aro IX (the ninth), HRM Eberechukwu Orji having received the recommendations of the panel constituted which affirmed Orji as the duly qualified person to be the Eze Aro.
Meanwhile, Counsel to Abia State government, Barrister Ernest Ibelegbu, told the court on Friday, 2nd February, 2024, that the case has been taken over by the Abia State government from the police.
Counsel to the defendant, Godwin Kanu Idei, Barrister Jude Nwokoro, said the court was supposed to go on with the trial but they filed a motion for the review of the process that brought Godwin Kanu to court to stand for trial.
Consequent upon this, Nwokoro said the court saw the documents and adjourned the matter sine die because the application they made before the High Court asked for a stay of prosecution, and therefore, the Magistrate Court will not go on until the end of the application at the High Court.
He explained that they went to the High Court to strike out the criminal charges against Kanu because they were incompetent, and Kanu should not stand trial as the state has no case against him.