Alex Ikwechegh: Abuja driver petitions IGP over alleged assault

Stephen Abuwatseya, an e-hailing driver, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, accusing Alex Ikwechegh, a House of Representatives member, of physical assault and abuse of power.

The incident, captured in a viral video, shows Ikwechegh, representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency, verbally and physically assaulting the driver for requesting him to step out of his residence to collect a delivery. The driver was contracted to deliver snails to the lawmaker’s Maitama, Abuja, home but refused to enter the premises, citing company policy.

In the video, Ikwechegh, angered by the driver’s request, described the act as disrespectful to his social status. He also threatened to make the driver “disappear” without consequence. When the driver demanded payment, the lawmaker slapped him multiple times and questioned whether the driver understood who he was dealing with.

The Nigeria Police Force confirmed its awareness of the incident, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has invited Ikwechegh for questioning.

In a petition dated October 28, filed through his lawyer, Marvin Omorogbe of Deji Adeyanju & Partners, Abuwatseya accused Ikwechegh of grievous assault, abuse of power, attempted murder, and making threats to his life.

The driver explained that his refusal to enter the compound was in line with Bolt’s delivery policies, expressing disappointment over the lawmaker’s actions. He urged the police to investigate the matter and prosecute the lawmaker if necessary.

The letter read in part: “Our client is a Bolt driver and a hard-working Nigerian citizen. It is our client’s information that at about 9 p.m. 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 arriving at Hon. Ikwechegh’s residence, he requested that our client bring the food into his premises, contrary to the 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 would happen to him.

“Following the assault, Hon. Ikwechegh caused our client to be detained at the Maitama Police Station, and his car was 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 totally distasteful and a threat to our client’s safety.

“At a time when several Nigerians are increasingly subjected to enforced disappearance by state and non-state actors, we particularly find Hon. Ikwechegh’s threat to cause our client’s disappearance a national issue that deserves immediate investigation.

“It is in 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.”