Magistrate Orders Peace In Land Dispute Case

The presiding chief magistrate at the Umuahia Chief Magistrate Court in Abia State, His Lordship, Ngozi P. Lekwa, has ordered parties in a case of threat to violence over land dispute to live in peace as the three persons standing trial on a six-count charge in pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It was gathered that the case is a fallout of a land dispute among the petitioner and the three among others who are kinsmen over sharing formula of their ancestral land.

It is between the commissioner of Police, Royal Nwankwo, Chimezie Elekwu Martins and Kelechi Azubuike Onuoha in suit number MIS/33C/2024.

They are alleged to have conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit “Threatening violence, trespass, conduct likely to among others, cause breach of peace and intimidation, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 516A (a) of the Criminal Code , Cap.80 Vol 3 Laws of Abia State, 2005.

The charge sheet signed by the officer in charge of the command’s Legal Department, CSP Njoku Chinyeaka, said the charges include intimidation and threat to kill the following; Ndubuisi Jacob, Anthony Nwankwo and Stephen Nwankwo.

‎Hearing of the case which was said to have occurred in 2022 at Asunkpa Umuokombo Acha Autonomous Community in Isuikwuato Magisterial District was adjourned to 22nd October, 2026 for further hearing.

‎Their arrest was said to be sequel to a petition written to the state commissioner of police by one Anthony Imo Nwankwo, a fellow kinsman of the three.

‎Records indicated that their trial had commenced at an Isuikwuato Magistrate Court before it was transferred to the capital on security grounds.