Abia Lawmaker Denounces Bottle Attack By House Majority Leader During Sharing Of Governor Otti’s Cash Gift

Hon. Akachukwu Ucheonye, a member of the Abia State House of Assembly representing Aba Central State Constituency, has refuted the viral reports where he was alleged to have an altercation where he was reportedly injured by the House Majority Leader, Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu, who represents Arochukwu State Constituency as earlier reported by Trustbase News.

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Ucheonye sustained a deep head injury and severe concussion after being attacked with a beer bottle by Hon Okoro during a violent clash among members of the Labour Party (LP) caucus.

The incident according SaharaRepoters occurred during a meeting at the Aba residence of Hon. Fyne Ahuama, the member representing Osisioma Ngwa South Constituency.

It was however alleged that the meeting, which involved discussions over the distribution of money from Governor Alex Otti, was reportedly attended by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, who warned attendees against leaking details of the incident or reporting it to the police.

SaharaReporters had claimed that they obtained photos and a video showing Ucheonye in the hospital with a bandaged head. While the outlet refrained from publishing the more graphic footage revealing the full extent of his injuries, the images published clearly showed the seriousness of the attack.

According to SaharaRepoters Hon. Ucheonye had denied the incident that Okoro was responsible for his injuries, following reported threats and pressure.

The statement, however, failed to reveal the cause of the injury SaharaRepoters maintained.

SaharaReporters accuses Ucheonye of obtaining a statement, which was drafted by a third party and sent to him, leaving space for him to fill in his constituency. The statement reads;

“I, Hon. Ucheonye, Member representing [insert your constituency], was falsely alleged to have been attacked by my brother and colleague, Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu, the Majority Leader of the Abia State House of Assembly, who purportedly struck my head with a beer bottle-an allegation that is not only ridiculous but completely unfounded,” the statement said.

“I wish to categorically state that the said publication is false, malicious, and a product of desperate mischief-makers who are bent on tarnishing the hard-earned image of the Abia State House of Assembly and sowing seeds of discord among its members. There was no such incident, and at no time did any form of altercation-verbal or physical-occur between myself and the Majority Leader or any of my colleagues,” it further read.

Another statement obtained by SaharaReporters said, “There was never a time such ugly incidence happened and we will never allow such to happen. It is now very obvious that the peace and harmony the house has enjoyed since inauguration is obviously not going down well with distractors of the State.

“I have no issue with my brother and colleague, Hon. Uchenna or any of my colleagues. Those peddling this false rumors should be ready to prove same when called upon.”

“Ucheonye was forced to deny the report; he was threatened with sanctions,” a source privy to happenings in the House of Assembly, SaharaReporters claimed to have been told.