From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State Police command has given reason why it arrested one of the contenders to the Ezeship stool of Arochukwu kingdom in the state, Godwin Kanu Idei Kanu.
Giving insight to the arrest in a telephone conversation, the command’s PPRO, Maureen Chinaka said on January 3, the police was served a warrant of arrest obtained by the office of the Attorney General and Commisioner for Justice from a Magistrate Court for the arrest of Kanu.
Chinaka said based on the Court order, the command invited Kanu to the command headquarters for a chat.
She said Kanu refused to honour the invitation, but that when eventually he was brought to the police headquarters, after interrogation, he was granted bail.
The PPRO said that the man was still with the police was as a result of his inability to meet the condition for his bail.
“You called him a king, but police do not see him as one, but a contender to the throne, but if he goes about parading himself as a king, that amounts to impersonation.
“Police in the state will not allow whatever that will cause breach of the peace in the state. If he meets the bail term, he will be released.
Prior to his arrest, the selection of a new Eze for Arochukwu kingdom was in contention.
This led to the apex Arochukwu socio-cultural body, Nzuko Arochukwu to suspend the coronation of a new monarch earlier scheduled to hold immediately after the Yuletide.
A statement then signed by Nnadozie Udensi and Obozuluike Ofoelue, President General and acting Secretary General, Nzuko Arochukwu, said the suspension was to allow peace reign in the community during the festive period.
The statement read in part, “Following the discordant statements emanating from interested persons in the Eze Aro matter and in order to forestall breach of public peace in Arochukwu this festive period, Nzuko Arochukwu, after due consultation with the Abia State Government, wish to make the following public announcements which also represents the position of Abia State Government on the aforementioned.”
Nzuko Arochukwu made it clear in the statement that any purported Eze Aro coronation ceremony, or reception and or celebration of Eze Aro by any group is forthwith suspended.
It said the suspension would subsist until the investigative panel set up by Abia State Government concludes its assignment and submits its recommendation to Government for implementation.
Nzuko Aro said this stand was in consonance with Edit No. 8 of December, 1991, that empowered Government with the authority to deal with Chieftaincy and Town Union matters in the state.
The statement warned all those parading themselves as Eze Aro, including those suspended by Government in respect to the current Eze Aro matter, to stop such claims until Government concludes its investigation and makes pronouncement on the matter.