A MEMBER of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Alex Ikwechegh, has expressed regret for threatening and slapping a bolt driver who came to deliver a package to him.
The lawmaker tendered the apology in a public statement titled “A Statement of Regret and Commitment to Justice.”
Ikwechegh acknowledged that his actions fell short of what was expected of a public servant.
He pledged to assist the police in their investigation of the attack.
“I want to assure the public that I am fully cooperating with the Nigerian Police investigation into this matter. I support their efforts to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible are held accountable.”
He also admitted the embarrassment and harm caused to the Bolt driver he assaulted, his constituents in Abia State, and Nigeria as a whole.
He however pledged to address the issues through counselling to avoid a repeat.
The lawmaker also announced that he would be embarking on community service initiatives aimed at promoting respect, empathy, and understanding.
He urged Nigerians to foster a culture of respect, tolerance, and dignity to create a society where everyone is treated fairly and compassionately.
The ICIR reported that the lawmaker, who represents Aba North and South Federal Constituency of Abia State was seen assaulting and threatening a delivery Bolt driver, Stephen Abuwatseya, in a video that went viral on Monday, October 28.
The video sparked reactions from Nigerians on social media.
The legislator appears visibly angry in the footage, engaging in a heated exchange with the driver before resorting to physical intimidation and vocal threats and eventually slapping him.
The ICIR heard the lawmaker say he would make the driver disappear while boasting that nothing would happen.
The driver had asked Ikwechegh to come out and get the snail he was meant to deliver, but this, according to the driver, did not sit well with Ikwechegh, who resorted to dubbing the driver ‘disrespectful.’
Following the incident, Ikwechegh was invited by the police invited Maitama Divisional Headquarters.
The legislator was also criticised by the police for tarnishing the reputation of inspector general of police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, by daring the driver to call the IGP after slapping him.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker’s party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) condemned the assault on the Bolt driver by Ikwechegh shortly after the video of the attack emerged.
The APGA, in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, on Monday expressed its commitment to human rights and launched a formal investigation into the lawmaker’s conduct.
In the statement, the party made it clear that it would not condone any behaviour that compromises human dignity.
Meanwhile, some Nigerians on X have reacted to the lawmakers’ apology.
An X user @Adimchinobi6 asked the lawmaker to pay compensation to the Bolt driver.
“He should pay that Bolt man 10 million naira in damages, apologise on National TV, and go on suspension for nine months, and then be made to use public transport till his tenure finishes without contesting for anything again,” he tweeted.
Another X user Megamighty posted “Bolt as a company should also issue a statement in defence of their worker. I also expect the minister of transportation to get involved since Bolt is under his ministry.”
In her reaction, popular actress Kate Kenshaw posted “How far with the dishonourable snail Rep? I heard he apologised. To who? A hardworking man is going about his business, and you decide to assault him because you are who? A reprehensible being you are Alex Mascot.! That’s who you are if anyone asks.”
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance