Reps Member, Ikwechegh Says He's Pursuing 'Alternative Resolution' With Assaulted Bolt Driver

Alex Ikwechegh, the House of Representatives member, has revealed his readiness to employ "alternative dispute resolution" (ADR) to settle his assault case against the bolt driver in Abuja.

The lawmaker’s position was contained in a press statement issued by Rep. Akin Rotimi, Jr who is Spokesman, House of Representatives.

A viral video on social media had captured Alex Ikwechegh assaulting the bolt driver who went to his (the lawmaker) residence in Abuja for delivery.

Ikwechegh, who represents Aba North and South Federal Constituency of Abia State, had repeatedly slapped the driver and hurled insults at him for asking him to come to his car to collect what he (the driver) was there to deliver.

Ikwechegh had also threatened to make the driver disappear from Nigeria, saying nothing would happen if he did, even if the driver called the Inspector General of Police.

The lawmaker also refused to pay the driver and boasted that he is a member of the House of Representatives. He broke the driver’s phone and tore his clothes for “disrespecting him”.

This incident has therefore generated a lot of outrageous reactions from concerned Nigerians who demanded that the federal lawmaker should be punished for his action.

This agitation, among other things, forced the lawmaker to tender an apology for brutalising the e-hailing taxi driver during a plenary session on Tuesday.

Giving more updates on the issue, the House of Representatives spokesman Akin Rotimi said the matter had been referred to the House Committee on ethics and privileges.

Rotimi said the committee “has been mandated to report back within two weeks for further legislative action.“

He continued: “Rep. Ikwechegh, coming under Order 8, Rule 6 (Matter of Personal Explanation), expressed a heartfelt apology to Citizen Stephen Abuwatseya, the Nigeria Police, the House of Representatives, the National Assembly, and the Nigerian public.

“Acknowledging the regrettable nature of his actions, he confirmed that he and Citizen Abuwatseya are pursuing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, to which he is fully committed.”