A VIRAL video of a lawmaker representing the Aba North and South Federal Constituency of Abia State at the House of Representatives, Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, assaulting and threatening a delivery bolt driver, Stephen Abuwatseya, has sparked reactions from many Nigerians on social media.
Many who reacted to the video bemoaned the situation while calling for sanctions against the lawmaker.
The legislator appears visibly angry in the footage, engaging in a heated exchange with the delivery driver before resorting to physical intimidation, 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.’
“Do you know where you are? Do you know who I am? You think I will give you my money with the way you have spoken to me? You will not see any penny from me with this level of disrespect. You are very stupid,” the lawmaker said, as he went ahead to call the vendor and questioned how she had sent the driver in question.
“Can you imagine this rat? I can make this man (the driver) disappear from the whole of Nigeria, and nothing will happen. Can you imagine this rat? I am not going to give this boy one naira of my money. I pray that you insult me. Can you please insult me? I am not going to call my policemen to beat you up. I will beat you up. I will show you that I am a big brother to you. I will tie you up, lie you down, and lock you in my generator house.
“How dare you? Do you know who you are talking to? Do you know where you are? Because you saw me sitting outside here. Look at this monkey,” Ikwechegh said.
Ikwechegh then went ahead to slap the driver multiple times, noting that he would make the driver suffer.
The ICIR, however, could not confirm if the lawmaker went further to assault the driver beyond what was disclosed in the viral video.
The lawmaker could also be heard saying the driver should record him and petition the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Later footage shows the driver, shirtless, claiming that Ikwechegh tore his clothes during the altercation.
The incident, which reportedly occurred in the Federal Capital Territory, has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with citizens and advocacy groups condemning the lawmaker’s actions as an abuse of power.
But some other Nigerians said the victim might not get justice because of the prevailing impunity among the ruling class.
An X user, SeanKlean, wrote “Even if he sues for assault, as a member of the House of Representatives, I don’t think the police will do justice to this case. I strongly doubt the outcome favouring that Uber Driver. Do you know why? Because he’s a nobody. Just watch how the matter would be swept under the carpet.”
Another user, Vivian Umukoro, noted that in a country where the law is functional, people such as the lawmaker do not have a place in leadership.
“God is indeed merciful. People like this have no place in the corridors of power. “ I will make you disappear and nothing will happen. That’s the tune is a killer,” she said.
Also, Kelly Bonito, wrote “This can only happen in Nigeria. Tomorrow, he’ll run for another position, and I trust my fellow Nigerians will vote for him. We’ve seen it before: the woman who embezzled the palliatives meant to be shared with the public during the pandemic won the election she contested just last year, and the man who harassed the sales clerk at the sex toy shop also won his position.
“So, it’s no surprise if this one wins as well. In fact, this is the best CV they could have to secure a victory.”
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M