76-yr old Man, One Other in Court for Alleged Transformer Theft, Threats to Community in Abia

A seventy-six year old man,
Kalu Maduka and one other, Chidi Onyendi (47) have been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State.

The arraignment follows a three-count charge of conspiracy, theft of a ₦14 million transformer, and issuing threats to community leaders who reported them brought by the Commissioner of Police under Charge No: MAS/85C/2025.

Court filings revealed that the accused and others still at large were said to have 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 ₦14 million.

The transformer, intended for the community’s power supply project, belonged to the Egbelu Iheorji community.

The stolen transformer has since been recovered and is currently in the custody of the Aba Area Command Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force.

Community leaders Uzoma Cheta, chairman of the Landlord and Tenant Association, and Uche Emmanuel, an executive member, are named as complainants in the matter.

In Count III, the prosecution alleged that the accused issued threats against the complainants, vowing to unleash a vigilante group on them in retaliation for reporting the case to the police. The threats allegedly caused fear and panic among the victims.

Presiding over the case at Magistrate Court 1, Magistrate Erinma Maduagwu granted them bail in the sum of ₦500,000 each.

The bail conditions include a three-year tax clearance certificate and a surety who must be a house owner within the jurisdiction of the court.

As at the time of filing this report, Onyendi remains in prison custody, having failed to meet the bail conditions.

Sources within the community further allege that Chidi Onyendi has a history of fraudulent activities tied to the community’s electricity project.

He is accused of collecting funds from residents for the installation of a transformer, which he never provided. He was also accused of collecting electricity bills from residents and failing to remit the payments to the electricity distribution company, resulting in the disconnection of power supply to the community.

The case has sparked outrage in the Egbelu Iheorji community, with many residents calling for full prosecution and restitution.

The matter has been adjourned to June 19, 2025, for further hearing.