The Abia State Police Command has arraigned three kinsmen before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Umuahia over allegations of threats to life, intimidation, trespass and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

The defendants are Royal Nwankwo, 49; Chimezie Elekwu Martins, 45; and Kelechi Azubuike Onuoha, 40.

They were arraigned on a six-count charge marked MIS/33C/2024 and filed by the Commissioner of Police. The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs Ngozi P. Lekwa, granted the defendants bail and directed all parties involved in the matter to maintain peace and conduct themselves peacefully throughout the proceedings.

According to the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly conspired in September 2022 at Asunkpa, Umuokombo Acha Autonomous Community, in the Isuikwuato Magisterial District, to commit a felony.

The charges include alleged threats of violence, trespass, intimidation and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

The charge sheet was signed by the Officer in Charge of the Legal Department of the Abia State Police Command, CSP Njoku Chinyeaka.

The defendants were also accused of allegedly threatening the lives of Ndubuisi Jacob, Chief Anthony Nwankwo and Stephen Ifeanyi Nwankwo.

Their arrest followed a petition submitted to the Commissioner of Police by Anthony Imo Nwankwo, described as an elder kinsman of the defendants.

The dispute reportedly stemmed from efforts by the defendants, the petitioner and other stakeholders to share about 100 hectares of ancestral land inherited from their forebears.

According to the account presented before the court, a meeting convened to discuss the sharing of the land later turned into a dispute, with the parties making various allegations against one another, including claims relating to the alleged possession of firearms.

The dispute was also reportedly linked to the deaths of some members of the community, although the circumstances surrounding those deaths were not established during the proceedings.

The case initially commenced at the Isuikwuato Magistrate’s Court but was later transferred to Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on security grounds.

At the most recent sitting, the petitioner, Anthony Imo Nwankwo, testified as the first prosecution witness.

The defendants were represented by Mr Godswill Ndubuisi Nwokeiwu, a retired magistrate and practising lawyer.

The court adjourned the matter until October 22, 2026, for further hearing and reiterated its directive that all parties should maintain peace pending the determination of the case.