The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, has stated that his colleague, Alex Ikwechegh, could face “double tragedy” for allegedly assaulting e-hailing driver Stephen Abuwatseya in Abuja at the end of October.
“Presently, he is being prosecuted. He is at the Magistrate Court. The House has also sent him to the disciplinary committee on the same issue,” Chinda said on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television.
“Perhaps, he might suffer double jeopardy if he is undergoing prosecution and disciplined in the House.”
Chinda said he has spoken with his colleague and he has shown remorse and apologised to Nigerians.
“But in essence, I don’t think anybody will agree that that is a standard for parliamentarians. They call us honourable members so we should be honourable within and outside the parliament. And people should look up to us. Public office holders are like pastors and Imams and people should look up to you in character and conduct,” he said.
Nigerians expressed outrage in late October when a video surfaced showing Ikwechegh assaulting e-hailing driver Stephen Abuwatseya in Abuja. The incident occurred after the lawmaker ordered snails from a vendor who had enlisted the services of the e-hailing driver for delivery. A heated argument broke out when the driver arrived at Ikwechegh’s residence and requested payment.
Ikwechegh, who represents the Aba North & South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives on the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) platform, was recorded angrily speaking to the vendor over the phone while the driver was present. “How can this stupid idiot come to me and tell me that I am supposed to come and meet him in his car and pick up a snail I am buying from you? I can make this man disappear in the whole of Nigeria and nothing will happen.” the lawmaker blurted to the speaker on the other side.
After the call, Ikwechegh confronted Abuwatseya and slapped him twice, but the driver remained composed despite the assault. The public response was swift, with many Nigerians demanding justice. Following the incident, the police arrested Ikwechegh, who has since issued a public apology to the driver and the Nigerian people.
Last Wednesday, a Kuje Magistrates’ Court granted Ikwechegh bail set at ₦500,000 after he was arraigned on three counts: abuse of office, assault, and threat to life, to which he pleaded not guilty. Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id has scheduled the next hearing for November 8.