TheCable

There was drama at Sam Mbakwe International Airport on Sunday as Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Imo, reportedly got involved in a brawl with Cletus Illomuanya, a monarch in the state. 

Okorocha and Ilomuanya were onboard an Abuja-bound Air Peace airplane.

Ilomunaya was dethroned as Obi of Obinugwu and removed as head of traditional rulers in 2011 by Okorocha.

But the monarch went to court to challenge his removal. An appeal court ruled in his favour, but the state government allegedly refused to honour the judgment.

Emeka Ihedioha, former governor of Imo, however reinstated Illomuanya in 2019.

The monarch was said to have attacked the former governor with his royal staff in a attempt to prevent Okorocha from sitting close to him.

But the former governor reportedly responded by saying he would repeat his actions if he was still governor.

The brawl was however deescalated after the airline’s captain intervened by relocating Okorocha to another seat.

Reacting to the development through Sam Onwuemeodo, his media aide, Okorocha described the monarch’s action as  “disgraceful, unfortunate, condemnable, embarrassing and ungodly, indecent and unexpected from someone who had led the lmo State Council of Traditional Rulers”.