The Nigerian Police on Monday confirmed that House of Representatives member Alex Ikwechegh was in custody over a viral video that showed him assaulting the driver of an e-hailing app, Bolt and threatening to make him “disappear.”
A statement by FCT police spokesperson Josephine Adeh said Mr Ikwechegh was undergoing questioning to shed light on the events that led to the assault and threat.
“Currently, the suspect is at the Maitama Police Station undergoing questioning,” SP Adeh said Monday afternoon. “Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Olatunji Disu, has mandated a thorough investigation into the matter.”
Bolt driver Abuwatseya’s ordeal in the hands of Hon Alex Ikwechegh
The lawmaker was seen bellowing threats in the video captured by the driver, Stephen Abuwatseya and boasting that he had the wherewithal to make him disappear without prosecution. At issue was the Bolt driver’s refusal to enter the lawmaker’s residence to deliver a package. Mr Ikwechegh was furious that the driver asked him to come out of his house in the elite neighbourhood of Maitama to receive his package.
He called the snail vendor who sent his package using the Bolt app to report Mr Abuwatseya and inform.her of his decision to withhold delivery payment.
“How can this stupid idiot come to me and tell me that I am supposed to come and meet him in his car and pick up a snail I am buying from you? I can make this man disappear in the whole of Nigeria and nothing will happen.” the lawmaker screamed into his phone with the vendor on the other end.
Mr Ikwechegh further made statements to suggest that the Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun would let him off the hook, if the Bolt driver escalated the assault to law enforcement.
“Do you know who I am? I just slapped you and there’s nothing you will do. My name is Honourable Alex Ikwechegh, tell them (public) I slapped you. Call the Inspector General of Police that I slapped you, let him come. Record me very well,” he bragged.
The lawmaker insisted that he would not pay the delivery fee and threatened to make the Bolt driver disappear in Nigeria and bragged that there would be no consequences.
“Do you know who I am? I can make this man (driver) disappear in the whole of Nigeria and nothing will happen, bellowed Mr Ikwechegh. “Can you imagine this rat? I am not going to give this boy one naira of my money.”
“You will not get a penny from me with this level of disrespect. You will suffer, I will deal with you,” he continued threatening the Bolt driver.
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Police finds Alex Ikwechegh’s IGP comments “troubling”
The police condemned Mr Ikwechegh’s reference to the police, stating that it reeked of a “troubling disregard for the authority of law enforcement.”
“The FCT Police Command expresses grave concern over Hon. Ikwegh’s dismissive attitude toward the office of the Inspector General of Police following the incident. After allegedly slapping the victim, he reportedly remarked with contempt, ‘You can go ahead and call the Inspector General of Police,’ demonstrating a troubling disregard for the authority of law enforcement,” SP Adeh noted in her statement.
She stressed that the FCT Police Command would conduct a thorough and impartial investigation to determine justice was duly served.
“The Command is committed to conducting an impartial investigation and ensuring justice in all cases,” she stressed. “Upon completion of the investigation, appropriate legal action will be taken.”