- Safiu Kehinde
Steven Abuwatseye, the Bolt driver assaulted a member of the House of Representatives, Alex Ikwechegh, has written to the legislative body, demanding for the prosecution of the lawmaker.
This was contained in a petition filed against Ikwechegh accusing him of grievous assault, abuse of power, attempted murder, and threat to life.
As narrated in the petition written by the driver’s solicitors, Deji Adeyanju and Partners, Steven was subjected to physical assault and threat by Ikwechegh on his arrival to the lawmaker’s Maitama residence for food delivery.
Ikwechegh had allegedly requested that the driver bring the food into his premises, which he refused as it contradicts the laid down policies regulating bolt drivers in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The driver reportedly asked Ikwechegh to send someone to pick the food.
In reaction, the House or Representatives member physically assaulted the driver, allegedly tearing his clothes, and threatened to make him “disappear” from Nigeria.
The petition further disclosed that the driver was detained under the order of the lawmaker with his car seized.
While condemning Ikwechegh’s action which they described as distasteful, the driver’s solicitors demanded the prosecution of the lawmaker.
The petition read in part; “We are Solicitors to Mr. Steven Abuwatseye (hereinafter referred to as our client) on whose instruction we act.
“We hereby write this petition against Honourable Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, a serving member of the Federal House Of Representatives, representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency for grievous assault, abuse of power, attempted murder and grave threat to our client’s life.
“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. actions 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 cause an investigation into the issues raised in this petition with a view to prosecuting Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh.”