Two group leaders arraigned in court docket for alleged transformer theft in Aba

A Chief Justice of the Peace Court docket sitting in Aba South LGA, has arraigned two males, Chidi Onyendi (47) and Kalu Maduka (76), on allegations of conspiracy, theft of a N14 million transformer, and issuing threats in opposition to group leaders who reported them.

Presiding over the case at Justice of the Peace Court docket 1, Justice of the Peace Erinma Maduagwu granted the defendants bail within the sum of N500,000 every, together with a three-year tax clearance certificates and a surety who have to be a home proprietor throughout the jurisdiction of the court docket.

The arraignment adopted a three-count cost introduced by the Commissioner of Police underneath Cost No: MAS/85C/2025.

In line with court docket filings, the accused and others nonetheless at massive allegedly conspired on or earlier than Might 1, 2025, at Egbelu Iheorji within the Aba South Magisterial District to steal a 300KVA model new transformer valued at N14 million.

In line with the cost, the stolen transformer was supposed for the group’s energy provide venture, however has since been recovered and is at present within the custody of the Aba Space Command Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Power.

The Cost additionally stated that the offense is punishable underneath Part 516 A(a) of the Legal Code Cap 80 Legal guidelines of Abia State of Nigeria amongst others.

Neighborhood leaders, Uzoma Cheta, Chairman of the Landlords and Tenants Affiliation, and Uche Emmanuel, an govt member, are named as complainants within the matter.

In Rely III, the prosecution alleged that the defendants issued threats in opposition to the complainants, vowing to unleash a vigilante group on them in retaliation for reporting the case to the police, including that the threats allegedly induced worry and panic among the many victims.

The matter was adjourned to June 19, 2025 for additional listening to, whilst many residents of Egbelu Iheorji are calling for full prosecution of the matter.