The police in Abia State has arraigned two men: Chidi Onyendi (47) and Kalu Maduka (76) before Chief Magistrate Court 1 presided over by Magistrate Erinma Maduagwu sitting in Aba South LGA, over allegations of conspiracy, theft of a N14 million transformer, and issuing threats against community leaders who reported them.
Magistrate Maduagwu granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 each, including a three-year tax clearance certificate and a surety who must be a house owner within the jurisdiction of the court.
The arraignment followed a three-count charge brought by the Commissioner of Police under Charge No: MAS/85C/2025.
According to court filings, the accused and others still at large allegedly conspired on or before May 1, 2025, at Egbelu Iheorji in the Aba South Magisterial District to steal a 300KVA brand new transformer valued at N14 million.
According to the charge, the stolen transformer was intended for the community’s power supply project, but has since been recovered and is currently in the custody of the Aba Area Command Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Charge also said that the offense is punishable under Section 516 A(a) of the Criminal Code Cap 80 Laws of Abia State of Nigeria among others.
Community leaders, Uzoma Cheta, Chairman of the Landlords and Tenants Association, and Uche Emmanuel, an executive member, are named as complainants in the matter.
In Count III, the prosecution alleged that the defendants issued threats against the complainants, vowing to unleash a vigilante group on them in retaliation for reporting the case to the police, adding that the threats allegedly caused fear and panic among the victims.
The matter was adjourned to June 19, 2025 for further hearing, even as many residents of Egbelu Iheorji are calling for full prosecution of the matter.
