A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, has been granted bail of N500,000 after being charged for assaulting e-hailing driver, Stephen Awutseye at his Abuja residence.
Ikwechegh was granted bail by an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Kuje, Abuja.
He was arraigned on a three count charged bordering on assault and threat to life as filed by the police.
Meanwhile, the defendant has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
The prosecution counsel, Mr. A. Umar, has therefore applied for a date for full-blown hearing to commence in the matter.
However, counsel to the defendant made an oral application for his release on bail, pending the determination of the case.
The defendant contended that the charge against him contained bailable offences, adding that his right to presumption of innocence was guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
In his ruling, Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id held that he was minded to accede to the defendant’s application for bail.
Consequently, he granted the lawmaker bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in the like sum.
The court stressed that the sureties must not only reside within its jurisdiction but also provide their utility bills as proof of residence.
It subsequently adjourned the matter to November 8 for trial.
NPO Reports that the lawmaker has been under fire after assaulting Mr Awutseye and threatening to make him disappear.