Following an alleged assault on his person by a member of the House of Representatives, Alex Ikwechegh, an e-hailing (bolt) driver, Stephen Abuwatseya, Monday, petitioned Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, asking him to order investigation into the matter with a view to prosecuting the alleged culprit......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>
A viral video emerged on the social media where Ikwechegh, who represents Aba North/South Federal Constituency of Abia state, was allegedly seen angrily yelling and physically assaulting the driver who had come to deliver a food item at his residence.
According to the video sighted by Blueprint, the driver, upon putting a call through to the lawmaker, requested him to come out and pick the item, and that got the Abia-born lawmaker angry.
The lawmaker, who repeatedly called the driver stupid, idiot and monkey, got enraged at a time and slapped the driver two times, threatening the third one if his victim ventured to speak further.
As if that was enough, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) lawmaker also threatened to make “this man disappear from Nigeria and nothing will happen.”
Even when the driver summoned the courage and still insisted on getting paid for service rendered, the fair complexioned lawmaker not only refused to pay the money, but also dared him to call the IGP to see if he could save him from his angst.
…Petitions IGP
And disappointed at the lawmaker’s conduct, Abuwatseya petitioned the IGP to seek justice for the harassment he suffered.
In the petition filed by his lawyer, Marvin Omorogbe of the Deji Adeyanju & Partners law firm, the driver accused the lawmaker of grievous assault, abuse of power, attempted murder and threat to life.
However, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command has waded in and instantly invited the lawmaker for questioning.
The petitioner’s lawyer said: “Our client is a bolt driver and a hard-working Nigerian citizen. It is our client’s information that at about 9pm on October 27, 2024, he was contracted by a vendor to deliver some food to Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh at his residence in Maitama, Abuja.
“Regrettably, upon getting to Hon. Ikwechegh’s residence, he requested that our client bring the food into his premises, contrary to the laid down policies regulating bolt drivers in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Our client politely refused the request and urged Hon. Ikwechegh to send someone to pick up the food outside the gate, as is customary with delivery services.
“In response to our client’s refusal to take the food into the premises, Hon. Ikwechegh physically assaulted our client, tore his clothes, threatened to make him “disappear” from Nigeria and repeatedly dared our client to call the Inspector General of Police, while threatening that nothing will happen to him.
“Following the assault, Hon. Ikwechegh caused our client to be detained at the Maitama Police Station and his car seized by the Investigative Police Officer. Attached herein, for ease of reference, is a video recording of the incident.
“As a serving member of the Federal House of Representatives, whose primary duties include making laws for the safety of Nigerians, we find Hon. Ikwechegh’s actions were totally distasteful and a threat to our client’s safety.
“At a time when several Nigerians are increasingly being subjected to enforced disappearance by state and non-state actors, we particularly find Hon. Ikwechegh’s threat to cause our client’s disappearance as a national issue that deserves immediate investigation.
“It is in the light of the foregoing that we kindly request that you investigate the issues raised in this petition with a view to prosecuting Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh,” added the petition dated 28 October, 2024.
…Police wade in
And in a quick response, the FCT Police Command said it was currently interrogating the alleged atrocities of the lawmaker at its Maitama Divisional Headquarters.
In a statement Monday by the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, the police said investigation had commenced into the matter.
According to the police spokesperson, preliminary investigation revealed Abuwatseya was delivering a package to Ikwechegh when the two of them had a row over the mode of delivery.
“Alexander Ikwegh, who represents the Aba North and South Federal Constituency in Abia State. The incident occurred on October 27, 2024, at a residence on Zamfara Crescent, Maitama, Abuja.
“The FCT Police Command has received a report at the Maitama Divisional Headquarters regarding an incident involving a Bolt driver, Mr. Stephen Abuwatseya, and Hon. Alexander Ikwegh, who represents the Aba North and South Federal Constituency in Abia State. The incident occurred on October 27, 2024, at a residence on Zamfara Crescent, Maitama, Abuja.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that Mr Abuwatseya was delivering a package to Hon. Ikwegh when a dispute arose concerning the method of delivery. During this altercation, Mr. Abuwatseya was reportedly physically assaulted.
“The FCT Police Command expresses grave concern over Hon. Ikwegh’s dismissive attitude toward the office of the Inspector General of Police following the incident,” the statement said.
On the reference made to the IGP in the heat of the squabble, Adeh said: “After allegedly slapping the victim, he reportedly remarked with contempt, “You can go ahead and call the Inspector General of Police.”
“Currently, the suspect is at the Maitama Police Station undergoing questioning,” she added, saying “Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Olatunji Disu, has mandated a thorough investigation into the matter.
“The Command is committed to conducting an impartial investigation and ensuring justice in all cases. Upon completion of the investigation, appropriate legal action will be taken….READ FULL CONTENT FROM THE SOURCE
