Two men, Chidi Onyendi (47) and Kalu Maduka (76), have been charged by a Chief Magistrate Court in Aba South LGA with conspiracy, stealing a transformer worth N14 million, and threatening community leaders who reported them.
Magistrate Erinma Maduagwu, who presided over the case at Magistrate Court 1, gave the defendants N500,000 bail apiece, along with a three-year tax clearance certificate and a surety who had to possess a home within the court’s jurisdiction.
The Commissioner of Police filed a three-count charge under Charge No. MAS/85C/2025, which was followed by the arraignment.
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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 further claimed that the offence is punished 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 mentioned as complainants in the issue.
The prosecution claimed in Count III that the defendants threatened the complainants, threatening to launch a vigilante group against them in reprisal for calling the police. The victims were reportedly terrified and panicked as a result of the threats.
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.
