Reactions have continued to trail the action of a member of the House of Representatives, Alex Ikwechegh, against a Bolt driver, as many Nigerians have continued to call for justice. Ikwechegh represents Aba North & South Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, says he has however hinted that his colleague, Alex Ikwechegh, may face stiffer punishments and “double tragedy” for assaulting an e-hailing driver, Stephen Abuwatseya, in the nation’s capital, Abuja, late October.
The Rep’s Minority Leader, said that the member is being prosecuted as he faces the Magistrate Court, adding that the House has also sent him to the disciplinary committee on the same issue.
“Perhaps he might suffer double jeopardy if he is undergoing prosecution and disciplined in the House,” he added. Chinda said he has spoken with his colleague and he has shown remorse and apologized to Nigerians.
“But in essence, I don’t think anybody will agree that that is a standard for parliamentarians. They call us honourable members, so we should be honourable within and outside the parliament. And people should look up to us. Public office holders are like pastors and imams, and people should look up to you in character and conduct,” he said.
In late October, a video showing Ikwechegh attacking the e-hailing driver in Abuja infuriated Nigerians. The legislator had placed an order with a vendor who used an e-hailing app driver to deliver the snails. When the driver showed up at the lawmaker’s house and demanded payment, a serious argument broke out.
In front of the driver, an enraged Ikwechegh could be heard on the phone with the vendor. “How can this dumb fool approach me and tell me that I need to pick up a snail I’m purchasing from you in his car?” The congressman yelled to the speaker on the opposite side, “I can make this man disappear in all of Nigeria and nothing will happen.”
