Pandemonium reportedly broke out during a meeting of Labour Party lawmakers in the Abia State House of Assembly after the Majority Leader, Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu, allegedly smashed a beer bottle on the head of his colleague, Hon. Akachukwu Ucheonye, during a heated argument over the sharing of a cash gift allegedly sent by Governor Alex Otti.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that Sahara Reporters gathered from multiple sources that the violent confrontation occurred at the Aba residence of Hon. Fyne Ahuama, the member representing Osisioma Ngwa South Constituency, where members of the LP caucus had gathered to deliberate on the distribution of the money said to have been disbursed by the governor.
According to insiders, the meeting, which had in attendance the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, turned chaotic after Ucheonye—who represents Aba Central Constituency and chairs the House Committee on Appropriation, Budget and Planning—demanded a larger share of the funds, citing his committee’s key role in the passage of the 2025 supplementary budget.
His demand, witnesses said, infuriated the Majority Leader, Hon. Kalu, who allegedly picked up a beer bottle and smashed it on Ucheonye’s head during a scuffle.
The lawmaker reportedly sustained a deep cut and suffered a concussion before being rushed to a nearby private hospital for treatment.
A source who was at the meeting said, “While discussing how to share the governor’s appreciation money, Hon. Ucheonye insisted on taking a bigger share because of his committee’s role in the budget process.
That angered the Majority Leader, who grabbed a beer bottle and struck him on the head. The Speaker quickly intervened and told everyone not to report the matter to the police or the press.”
It was learnt that Governor Otti had allegedly sent an undisclosed amount of money to members of the LP caucus as an appreciation token for the swift passage of the N150 billion supplementary appropriation bill, which followed the earlier approval of the ₦750.3 billion 2025 Budget of Sustained Momentum.
In a message reportedly sent by the injured lawmaker to Governor Otti after the altercation, Ucheonye wrote:“Good evening, Your Excellency. This is the wound I sustained from the Majority Leader for trying to voice my opinion on issues bordering on the committee I chair during our caucus meeting at Hon. Fyne Ahuama’s residence in Aba.”
Barely days after the violent meeting, the lawmakers reportedly travelled on a state-sponsored trip to London, estimated to have cost taxpayers nearly ₦1 billion. Sources said they flew first class and lodged at the Premier Inn London Town Centre Hotel, Croydon.
However, the London trip was not without drama. Fresh reports revealed that another heated confrontation broke out among the legislators over alleged diversion of part of the travel funds.
A source said that only about 40 percent of the money released for the trip was shared among the lawmakers, while the rest remained unaccounted for.
The Speaker, Deputy Speaker Augustine Meregini, and the Majority Leader were accused of withholding a large portion of the funds.
“The Speaker and a few others hijacked most of the money meant for the trip. Tempers rose again in London, and hotel security had to step in to calm the situation,” the source disclosed.
It was also gathered that some aggrieved lawmakers are now plotting to move against the Speaker and other principal officers upon their return to Nigeria, citing misconduct and financial impropriety.
Neither the Abia State Government nor the Assembly leadership had issued any official statement as of the time of filing this report.
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