By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The FCT Police Command says it is handling the incident that happened between a Bolt driver, Stephen Abuwatseya, and a member of the House of Representative, Alexander Ikwegh.
In a viral video making the rounds on social media, the federal lawmaker who represents Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta/Oru West Federal Constituency in Imo State, was captured brutalising the e-hailing driver who went to his (the lawmaker) residence in Abuja for delivery.
The lawmaker slapped the driver three times and hurled insults at him for asking him to come to his car to collect what he (the driver) was there to deliver.
Ikwechegh also threatened to make the driver disappear from Nigeria, saying nothing would happen if he did.
The lawmaker 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”.
He also threatened to beat the driver and lock him in his generator house to make him suffer.
As he ranted and hurled insults at the Uber driver, the lawmaker said, “Do you know where you are? Do you know who I am?”
The driver who spoke in a soft tone said, “Oh, no sir. Just give me the money back.”
The lawmaker said, “So you think I will give you my money with the way you have spoken to me?”
The driver replied, “I did a job for you and you have to pay me.” But Ikwechegh said, “You will not see any penny from me. With this level of disrespect, you are very stupid, very-very stupid.”
The lawmaker then called a woman who is believed to be the one who sent the driver to deliver the package on the phone and said, “Madam, who is this stupid boy that you sent to this my house? Who is this foolish boy that you sent to my house?
“How can this stupid idiot come to my house and tell me that I’m supposed to come and meet him in his car and pick up snails that I’m buying from you?”
The woman on the other end could be faintly heard saying, “How can he say that? I’m so sorry he doesn’t know who you are.”
The lawmaker continued, “Can you imagine this rat? I can make this man to disappear in the whole Nigeria and nothing will happen. Can you imagine this rat.”
While the woman on the phone continued to apologise, saying, “I’m so sorry sir,” the lawmaker said, “I’m not going to give this boy one Naira of my money. No, no, I am not going to give this silly boy one Naira of my money.”
At this point, the driver gently said, “You have been insulting me since and I have been quiet.”
The lawmaker quickly said, “I pray that you insult me. Can you please insult me? I’m not going to call my policemen to beat you up. I will beat you up.
“I will show you that I’m a big brother to you. I will slap the hell out of you and I will lay you down, walk you into my generator house. How dare you?”
When the driver asked him, “Why should you do that?” he said, “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.”
The driver said, “That doesn’t matter. Just pay me my money. I don’t care what I am,” but the lawmaker interrupted him and said, “Are you looking at me that you can beat me or are you looking at me, what…” and slapped the driver twice, while saying, “Who the hell do you think you are talking to?”
“Do you know who I am? I’m a Senator of this Republic,” he said and slapped the driver the third time, adding, “Do you know who I am? How dare you.”
The driver gently said, “Are you slapping me, sir?” and the lawmaker said, “You see this place, you will suffer. I will deal with you.”
“Are you slapping me sir?” the driver asked again and he said, “I just did. Slap me back. How dare you? Do you know who I am?”
The driver, still sounding calm, said, “That is fine. Did you just slap me three times sir?” and Ikwechegh said, “twice, the third one you will soon receive it. How dare you? Come on, get out of this place.”
But the driver insisted, “I need my payment, sir.” While recording the incident, the driver said, “Alright, this is where I am. I just got three slaps from this man here just because I told him to come and get his stuff and pay me my money.
“He is claiming that he is …,” but the lawmaker immediately interrupted him and boastfully introduced himself, “My name is Honourble Alex Ikwechegh, I’m a member of the House of Reps. Tell them I slapped you. Call the Inspector General of Police. Call him, let him come. Record me very well. “You came to my house to disrespect me,” but the driver said, “I didn’t disrespect you. I said pay me my money and let me leave,” but the lawmaker aggressively snatched the driver’s phone from him.
While confirming the handling of the incident, the FCT Police Command urged the the public to refrain from using the name or office of the Inspector-General of Police “to intimidate others, as such actions undermine the values of impartiality that the IGP’s office upholds.”