On Wednesday, a Magistrates’ Court in Kuje granted bail to Alex Ikwechegh, a House of Representatives member for Aba North and South, setting the amount at ₦500,000.
Ikwechegh faced charges of abuse of office, assault, and threatening behavior after the Inspector General of Police accused him of assaulting a Bolt driver, Stephen Abuwatseya, near his Abuja home.
Ikwechegh pleaded not guilty, and following his plea, his lawyer requested bail, which Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id approved with conditions.
Bail requires two sureties, each with ₦500,000, residing within the court’s area and showing proof of residence through utility bills.
A social media video reportedly shows Ikwechegh slapping and threatening the driver multiple times.
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), a civil rights organization, criticized Ikwechegh, calling the act an “obvious abuse of power” in Nigeria’s political system.
RULAAC’s executive director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, condemned the incident, highlighting Ikwechegh’s disrespect for citizens’ rights.
Nwanguma also questioned the police’s handling of the case, urging reforms for accountability and public trust in governance.
Hearing is scheduled for November 8.
