What’s become of the three-count charge of “abuse of office, assault, and threat to life” instituted by the Nigeria Police against a House of Representatives member,
Alex Ikwechegh, for dehumanising an e-hailing Bolt driver, Stephen Abuwatseya, on October 27, 2024, in Abuja?
On October 28, the Police interrogated Ikwechegh, and on October 30, they announced his prosecution, with a post on X by the Force Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, stating, in all caps: “RULE OF LAW: POLICE PROSECUTES HON ALEXANDER IKWEGH FOR ASSAULT.”
At his docking, Ikwechegh pleaded not guilty to the charges, and after an oral application moved by his counsel, the presiding Chief Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id granted him bail for N500,000, and in-like sum by two sureties, who must reside in the court’s jurisdiction, and show evidence of payment for utilities, and adjourned the trial to November 8.
But in the intervening period, several twists were introduced into the matter. On October 29, Ikwechegh apologised for his misguided physical abuse of Abuwatseya. On November 7, Abuwatseya apologised to Ikwechegh for provoking him prior to the assault. And on November 8, Abuwatseya’s lawyers withdrew their pro bono service following his apology to Ikwechegh.
Abuwatseya’s travail began on October 27 in Abuja when he delivered a package to Ikwechegh’s house, and asked the lawmaker to come to the gate to receive it. One thing led to another, and Ikwechegh hit Abuwatseya three times, threatened to make him “disappear anywhere in Nigeria,” and dared him to report the incident to the authorities, including the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
To worsen matters for Abuwatseya, the police orderly attached to Ikwechegh bundled him to the Maitama police station, and accused him of going to Ikwechegh’s house to attack him. But a video posted by Abuwatseya on social media told a different story, and the IGP’s office moved the case apace therefrom.
Stunned Nigerians were quick to condemn the not-so-strange but abhorrent behaviour of a high-up against a lowly individual, with a near-unanimous call – even from his constituents, political party, the National Assembly (NASS), and a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) – for Ikwechegh’s head.
It’s one of the fastest pursuits of justice by the State, and on behalf of an alleged victim. While the Police woke up from their lethargy and took immediate steps to prosecute Ikwechegh, the Kuje Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, didn’t delay to dock the lawmaker.
Besides, lawyers from Deji Adeyanju and Partners, Abuja, offered the driver, Abuwatseya a pro bono (free) service on October 28 – a day after the incident – when a “visibly distressed” driver approached it, seeking legal action, and “after verifying his claims, the firm took steps to defend his rights on a pro bono basis, leading to the arraignment of the accused.”
But on November 8, the story got curiouser as Abuwatseya, in a video recording, admitted he’s to blame for the incident, saying he wanted to “apologise” for provoking Ikwechegh to rough-handle him.
In the video release on November 7, ther bolt driver Abuwatseya said: “Good day, Nigerians. My name is Stephen Abuwatseya. I had a misunderstanding with Rt. Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh a few days ago. I actually want to apologise to him for whatever I must have said or done to provoke him to that level of anger.
“I want to tell Nigerians that it’s not time for us to start dividing ourselves based on religion, tribe, or region. We should actually come together, see how we can unite this nation, and move it forward.
“Please, Nigerians, let’s forgive and forget, as it’s even contained in our Lord’s Prayer, that ‘Lord, please forgive us, as we forgive those who trespass against us.’ For there is no justice without forgiveness. Thank you very much.
“I want to use this medium to thank my family members, my parents, my brothers, my uncles and everybody that stood by me. I want to thank all of you. I love you all. Thank you. God bless you.”
What a disappointment, disservice, desertion of and disrespect to the public, who condemned Ikwechegh’s behaviour and called for action against him, the Police, who expeditiously arraigned him for prosecution, and the lawyers, who represented Abuwatseya pro bono!
If bolt driver, Abuwatseya were to allow the assault case to run full course, it’d be a “locus classicus (a classic case or example). Hence the November 8 headline by the online publication, Theconclaveng, aptly captured Abuwatseya’s peace overture as, “Anti-climax as Bolt driver apologises to Abuja lawmaker, Ikwechegh.”
In pleading for the understanding of Nigerians to “forgive and forget,” Abuwatseya suddenly remembered the biblical injunction: “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 5:22 and 6:12-15, Mark 11:25-26, and Ephesians 4:31-32).
But Abuwatseya forgot to also recall the injunction in Matthew 5:38-40, which counsels that: 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.”
If Abuwatseya had weighed the admonition of “turning the other cheek,” he wouldn’t have sought justice for his assault in an “Eye for eye” by consulting the law firm of Deji Adeyanju and Partners, and allowing the Police to arraign, and the court to dock Ikwechegh. He would simply have licked his wounds and forgot the incident ever occurred!
Abuwatseya took all Nigerians, the institution of the Police and the legal profession for granted, and threw them under the bus, as his plea for forgiveness doesn’t appear genuinely-introspective. Has some water passed under the bridge, with Abuwatseya pressured or “paid” to recant, which he’s kept away from the public, the Police, and his legal team?
Ironically in this drama, Ikwechegh’s unfussily presented himself for arraignment, granted bail on non-self-recognisance, showed contrition for his misbehaviour, and made a pledge for community service initiatives to promote respect, empathy, and understanding.
Ikwechegh’s statement to that effect on October 29 reads: “A video has surfaced, showing me engaging in unacceptable behaviour towards an Uber driver who came to deliver a waybill for me. I am deeply sorry for my actions and acknowledge that they were unacceptable and unbecoming of a public official.