The Nigeria Police Force says it is investigating the incident that occurred in the Maitama area of Abuja where a House of Representatives member, Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, assaulted a Bolt driver.
The police in a short statement issued on Monday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, also warned members of the public to refrain from using the name and office of the Inspector General of Police to intimidate others.
The statement read, “The Nigeria Police Force is aware of the incident between a Bolt driver, Mr. Stephen Abuwatseya, and Hon. Alexander Ikwegh, which took place on October 27, 2024, in Maitama, Abuja.
“The FCT Command is actively handling the case following Mr. Abuwatseya’s official report at the Maitama Divisional Headquarters.
“The Police Force also urges the public to refrain from using the name or office of the Inspector-General of Police to intimidate others, as such actions undermine the values of impartiality that the IGP’s office upholds.”
In a viral video making the rounds on social media, Ikwechegh was captured brutalising the e-hailing taxi driver, who went to his (the lawmaker) residence in Abuja to deliver a product.
Ikwechegh, who represents Aba North and South Federal Constituency of Abia State, repeatedly slapped the driver and hurled insults at him for asking him to come to his car to collect what he (the driver) was there to deliver.
Ikwechegh also threatened to make the driver disappear from Nigeria, saying nothing would happen if he did, even if the driver called the Inspector General of Police.
The lawmaker refused to pay the driver and boasted that he is a member of the House of Representatives. He broke the driver’s phone and tore his clothes for “disrespecting him”.
He also threatened to beat the driver and lock him in his generator house to make him suffer.
The lawmaker refused to pay the driver and boasted that he is a member of the House of Representatives. He broke the driver’s phone and tore his clothes for “disrespecting him”.
As he ranted and hurled insults at the Uber driver, the lawmaker said, “Do you know where you are? Do you know who I am?”
The driver who spoke in a soft tone said, “Oh, no sir. Just give me the money back.”
The lawmaker said, “So you think I will give you my money with the way you have spoken to me?”
The driver replied, “I did a job for you and you have to pay me.”
But Ikwechegh said, “You will not see any penny from me. With this level of disrespect, you are very stupid, very-very stupid.”
The lawmaker then called a woman who is believed to be the one who sent the driver to deliver the package on the phone and said, “Madam, who is this stupid boy that you sent to this my house? Who is this foolish boy that you sent to my house?
“How can this stupid idiot come to my house and tell me that I’m supposed to come and meet him in his car and pick up snails that I’m buying from you?”
The woman on the other end could be faintly heard saying, “How can he say that? I’m so sorry he doesn’t know who you are.”
The lawmaker continued, “Can you imagine this rat? I can make this man to disappear in the whole Nigeria and nothing will happen. Can you imagine this rat.”
While the woman on the phone continued to apologise, saying, “I’m so sorry sir,” the lawmaker said, “I’m not going to give this boy one Naira of my money. No, no, I am not going to give this silly boy one Naira of my money.”
At this point, the driver gently said, “You have been insulting me since and I have been quiet.”
The lawmaker quickly said, “I pray that you insult me. Can you please insult me? I’m not going to call my policemen to beat you up. I will beat you up.
“I will show you that I’m a big brother to you. I will slap the hell out of you and I will lay you down, walk you into my generator house. How dare you?”
When the driver asked him, “Why should you do that?” he said, “Do you know who you are talking to? Do you know where you are? Because you saw me sitting outside here? Look at this monkey.”
The driver said, “That doesn’t matter. Just pay me my money. I don’t care what I am,” but the lawmaker interrupted him and said, “Are you looking at me that you can beat me or are you looking at me, what…” and slapped the driver twice, while saying, “Who the hell do you think you are talking to?”
“Do you know who I am? I’m a Senator of this Republic,” he said and slapped the driver the third time, adding, “Do you know who the *** I am? How dare you.”
The driver gently said, “Are you slapping me, sir?” and the lawmaker said, “You see this place, you will suffer. I will deal with you.”
“Are you slapping me sir?” the driver asked again and he said, “I just did. Slap me back. How dare you? Do you know who I am?”
The driver, still sounding calm, said, “That is fine. Did you just slap me three times sir?” and Ikwechegh said, twice, the third one you will soon receive it. How dare you? Come on, get out of this place.”
But the driver insisted, “I need my payment, sir.”
While recording the incident, the driver said, “Alright, this is where I am. I just got three slaps from this man here just because I told him to come and get his stuff and pay me my money.
“He is claiming that he is …,” but the lawmaker immediately interrupted him and boastfully introduced himself, “My name is Honourble Alex Ikwechegh, I’m a member of the House of Reps. Tell them I slapped you. Call the Inspector General of Police. Call him, let him come. Record me very well.
“You came to my house to disrespect me,” but the driver said, “I didn’t disrespect you. I said pay me my money and let me leave,” but the lawmaker aggressively snatched the driver’s phone from him.
In another video, the driver who at this point showed his face, said, “This is where I am. I’m actually with one man. I got a request for delivery to him. As you can see, I don’t have a shirt. He shredded my clothes and he slapped me three times.
“The man is sitting outside here and there is nothing I can do about it. My phone is broken because I was videoing what he was doing and he dragged the phone from me.
“All ATWAN members please come to Maitama, back to the Farmers’ Market. I have not even ended the ride. Look at me and this is the man seated. This is my shirt and I have collected three slaps from him without saying a word. He has been slapping me. He has insulted me.
“Everybody that is an ATWAN member should please come to Maitama, Labida Court, beside Farmers’ Market.”