The Abia State Police Commissioner recently presented Eze Arochukwu, Kanu Idei, before an Umuahia Magistrate Court on charges of impersonation. Despite the charges, the court granted Idei bail on self-recognition during the proceedings held yesterday.
The monarch, reportedly crowned as Eze Aro IX in November 2023 by the Ibom Isii Arochukwu kingmakers, lacks formal recognition or the Statutory Staff of Office from the state government.
Notably, Idei’s emergence as the traditional ruler faces challenges, notably from Pastor Eberechukwu Orji, considered by some in Arochukwu as the Eze Aro designate. While opinions among indigenes differ, with some advocating for the government’s recognition of Idei, others accuse Governor Alex Otti of potential interference favoring Orji.
The arrest of Idei by the police on January 5, 2024, stemmed from his alleged impersonation as Eze Aro IX, leading to his arraignment on three charges—impersonation, false representation, and engaging in conduct likely to cause a breach of peace in Arochukwu kingdom.
In response to the charges presented in Case File No. U/03C/2024, where the Commissioner of Police confronted Mazi Godwin Kanu Idei, the accused pleaded not guilty before Chief Magistrate Onwutuebe Madu.
The legal proceedings shed light on the complex dynamics surrounding Idei’s claim to the throne, intertwining traditional practices, governmental recognition, and local sentiments in Arochukwu.
IMAGE: The Nation
