A viral video has shown a member of the House of Representatives, Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, slapping a Bolt driver in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Ikwechegh represents Aba North & South Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The video, which was seen by our reporter, has sparked outrage on social media platforms.
Going by the conversation recorded in the viral video, the lawmaker ordered some snails from a vendor who engaged the services of the e-hailing App driver to deliver the goods.
According to the driver, Stephen Abuwatseya, tensions escalated when he requested that Ikwechegh come outside to receive his delivery personally and asked to be paid.
In the video, the lawmaker repeatedly insisted that the request was disrespectful given his social status.
A furious Ikwechegh was heard speaking with the vendor on the phone. “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 blurted to the speaker on the other side.
After the phone conversation with the snail vendor, Ikwechegh faced Abuwatseya and said, “You will not get a penny from me with this level of disrespect. You will suffer, I will deal with you.”
Read Also: Abia lawmaker assaults bolt driver, threatens to make him disappear
“Do you know who I am? I can make this man (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 am not going to call my policemen to beat you up. I will do that myself. I will show you that I am a big brother. I will tie you up, lie you down and put you in my generator house. Do you know where you are? Because you saw me sitting outside here. Look at this monkey,” he said.
The lawmaker fulfilled his threat and landed two slaps on the driver who maintained composure in the face of the assault.
“I just did, slap me back. How dare you?” the lawmaker angrily retorted.
“Do you slap me thrice sir?”
“Twice, you will soon receive the third one.”
When alerted that the episode was recorded, the lawmaker told the driver: “My name is Honourable Alexander Mascot Ikwechegh, I am a member of the House of Reps, tell them. Call the Inspector General of Police, let him come.”
Ikwechegh and the House of Representatives have not released a statement on the incident but many Nigerians online have demanded that justice be served in the matter.
The video sparked widespread outrage across social media, with calls for accountability and justice.
On X, formerly Twitter, @ndidi_patricia wrote: “He’s talking about disrespect, yet he was the one being disrespectful, to the guy, assault and calling him all sorts of names just because the driver couldn’t enter his house to deliver the package, which i think is outside Bolt’s jurisdiction. What can we call this type of behavior?? Akanekwu osi do you know who I be ?”
@Franksvics said: “How long enough before we realise we have to do something about these politicians, there’s no hope for the common man. until them done begin use citizen skulls drink water na our eye go open…”
@ayo_omooba stated: “The Rep man of Nigeria’s House of Representatives Aba North and South, Alexander Mascot Ikwechegh, have a troubling history, as he brazenly claimed he could make a Bolt driver disappear. This statement raises serious concerns.”
@ayo_omooba wrote: “Nigeria Police should conduct a thorough investigation into Alexander Mascot Ikwechegh potential involvement with missing persons.”
By Samuel Oamen
