Abia State Police Commissioner has arraigned Eze Arochukwu, Kanu Idei, at an Umuahia Magistrate Court, but was granted bail on self-recognition by the same court, yesterday.
Idei, who was reportedly crowned the Eze Aro IX (king) in November 2023 by the Ibom Isii Arochukwu kingmakers, has not been formally recognised or given Statutory Staff of Office as a traditional ruler by the state government.
His emergence has also been challenged by Pastor Eberechukwu Orji, who, reportedly, is regarded, in some quarters in Arochukwu, as the Eze Aro designate.
While some indigenes, who pleaded anonymity, opined thatIdei, having been crowned the Eze Aro, should have been recognised by the government, some others accused Governor Alex Otti of seemingly scheming to impose Oji on the people.
Perhaps, due to Idei’s non-recognition by the state government, the police, on Friday, January 5, 2024 arrested and detained him for allegedly parading himself as Eze Aro IX, and subsequently arraigned him on three count charges of impersonation, false representation and engaging in conducts likely to cause breach of peace in Arochukwu kingdom.
When the charges in the Case File No. U/03C/2024: Commissioner of Police Vs Mazi Godwin Kanu Idei was read in court before the presiding Chief Magistrate, Onwutuebe Madu, by the prosecutor, C.C Nwaobilor, Idei pleaded not guilty to them.
