An Abia lawmaker has allegedly attacked his colleague during a heated argument over a cash gift reportedly given by Governor Alex Otti, sparking outrage within the Abia State House of Assembly.
The Majority Leader of the Abia Assembly, Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu, allegedly struck Hon. Akachukwu Ucheonye, who represents Aba Central State Constituency, with a bottle during a tense meeting of Labour Party lawmakers. The altercation reportedly occurred at the Aba residence of Hon. Fyne Ahuama, the member representing Osisioma Ngwa South Constituency.
According to reports by Sahara Reporters, the attack left Ucheonye with a deep head injury and severe concussion.
Sources confirmed that the meeting was attended by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, who allegedly instructed members not to disclose the incident or report it to the police.
“The lawmaker representing Aba Central State Constituency in Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Ucheonye, suffered severe concussions and broken head after the Majority Leader of Abia State House of Assembly who is the LP member representing Arochukwu State Constituency, Hon. Uchenna Kalu attacked him with a beer bottle,” a source privy to the meeting said.
“The attack followed disagreements during the sharing of money allegedly given to the members of the Labour Party Caucus of the state House of Assembly by Governor Alex Otti for passing the 2025 supplementary budget.”
The source further noted that the “violent attack happened during the meeting of members of the LP caucus at the Aba home of Honorable Fyne Ahuama, who represents Osisioma Ngwa South constituency.”
“The meeting was witnessed by the Speaker, Rt Honorable Emeruwa, who directed that members present ensure that the story does not leak out to the public or be reported to the police,” the source added.
One of those privy to the meeting told Sahara Reporters that Governor Otti had “appreciated” the LP caucus for the speedy passage of the N150 billion supplementary appropriation bill in August, in addition to the N750.3 billion 2025 budget tagged “Budget of Sustained Momentum.”
According to the source, the governor sent an undisclosed sum of money to the lawmakers as a token of appreciation.
However, a dispute reportedly erupted over the sharing formula. Hon. Ucheonye, who chairs the House Committee on Appropriation, Budget and Planning, was said to have demanded a larger portion of the funds, citing his committee’s critical role in the budget process.
His insistence reportedly angered the Majority Leader, Kalu, leading to verbal exchanges and eventually a physical altercation.
Witnesses said Kalu picked up a beer bottle and smashed it on Ucheonye’s head, leaving him bleeding profusely.
“While discussing the sharing formula for the largesse, Hon. Ucheonye, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Budget and Planning, insisted on getting a lion’s share of the money. This infuriated the majority leader, who proceeded to break a bottle of beer on the head of his colleague after a brief exchange of punches,” the source said.
Ucheonye was immediately rushed to a nearby private clinic for treatment. In a message later sent to Governor Otti, which included pictures and a video of his treatment, he wrote, “Good evening His Excellency, this is a wound I sustained from the majority leader for trying to voice my opinion on issues boarding on the committee I chair for the house at the premises of Hon Fyne Ahuama during our caucus meeting today at Aba.”
Sources also revealed that Hon. Ucheonye was discharged from the clinic to join his colleagues on a state-sponsored trip to London, reportedly costing taxpayers nearly N1 billion.
“Hon. Ucheonye has been discharged from the clinic to join his colleagues on a state-sponsored trip to London, United Kingdom,” the source said.
The incident comes a year after chaos erupted in the Cross River State House of Assembly when lawmakers clashed following the impeachment of Speaker Elvert Ayambem.
The lawmakers alleged that the impeached speaker misappropriated two percent of all revenue collected monthly by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to the tune of N404 million.
Following the announcement by Ekarika and Omang, one of the lawmakers dashed for the mace — the symbol of authority — leading to a physical brawl.
Police were later deployed to the Assembly complex to restore order and prevent further violence.
