By Vincess Okushi
Civil society organizations (CSOs) across Nigeria are demanding strict legal action against federal lawmaker Alex Ikwechegh following a shocking incident in which he allegedly assaulted a Bolt driver, Stephen Abuwatseya, in Abuja on October 27, 2024.
The altercation, captured on video and widely circulated online, shows Ikwechegh, who represents Aba North and South in Nigeria’s House of Representatives, lashing out at Abuwatseya after the driver asked him to retrieve a package from his doorstep.
Meanwhile, the video allegedly claims that Ikwechegh, refusing to pay for the service, unleashed a verbal tirade that escalated into multiple slaps across Abuwatseya’s face.
In a joint statement issued on October 31, 2024, CSOs condemned Ikwechegh’s actions, describing his behaviour as a blatant abuse of power.
They noted that Ikwechegh allegedly flaunted his political status as a “Federal Senator” during the incident, using his influence to have Abuwatseya falsely accused, detained, and his vehicle impounded.
The silence from elected officials is deeply troubling. the statement read. Ikwechegh’s apology reeks of entitlement, as he dismissed the victim as ‘just a Bolt driver,’ without acknowledging him by name. This abuse of authority cannot go unpunished.
The coalition, including Amnesty International Nigeria, Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre, and CLEEN Foundation, demanded Ikwechegh’s immediate suspension from the House of Representatives.
Warning that unchecked impunity among Nigeria’s elites could inflict a culture where the powerful can manipulate the law, while ordinary citizens face oppression.
The privileged in Nigeria is often a phone call away from exoneration. the CSOs emphasized.
Yet the vulnerable live under constant threat. We are all equal before the law and deserve to be treated as such.
Over 80 CSOs endorsed the call for justice, demanding more justice system that holds those in power accountable.
