We the undersigned civil society organizations, strongly condemn Mr. Alex Ikwechegh’s reprehensible assault on Mr. Stephen Abuwatseya, a Bolt driver in Abuja, on Sunday, October 27, 2024; and insist that he faces the full consequences of his action both before the courts and at the House of Representatives.
Mr. Ikwechegh, a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, was captured in a viral video verbally and physically assaulting Mr. Abuwatseya, who, according to the lawmaker, had committed the “unforgivable” offence of politely requesting him to come to receive a package delivery in front of his home. Not only did Mr. Ikwechegh refuse to pay Mr. Abuwatseya for his services, he also launched a verbal tirade, falsely claiming to be a “Federal Senator” and boasting that he could act with impunity.
When the driver attempted to protect himself by recording the incident, Mr. Ikwechegh proceeded to slap him three times and, subsequently had him arrested by the police and his car impounded on the false charge of assaulting him.
Since the video was released across social media platforms, there has been widespread support for the Bolt driver and a strong condemnation of the lawmaker, who represents the Aba North and South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. The Nigerian Police have arrested Mr. Ikwechegh for the crime, and he has since issued an apology to “the driver.”
While some may see this as a resolution, doing so would dismiss the deep-rooted impunity in Nigeria’s justice system that enabled Mr. Ikwechegh’s conduct. His brazen invocation of Nigeria’s top law enforcement authority, the Inspector-General of Police, raises concerns that, had Mr. Abuwatseya not recorded the incident, he could easily have faced serious harm without consequence for the lawmaker. This case unfortunately exemplifies the impunity that has come to define our government in all arms and at all levels.
We are troubled by the silence of key elected officials and political figures on this issue. The evidence is compelling and irrefutable, yet Mr. Ikwechegh’s colleagues at the National Assembly have failed to condemn his actions.
Some may point to his apology as proof of remorse, but it is telling that, even in this arguably forced apology, he referred to Mr. Abuwatseya merely as “the Bolt driver,” failing to show basic respect by addressing him by name; and claimed that he was assisting the police to bring the culprit in the matter to book, when he is, in actual fact – the culprit!
We remind the House of Representatives and indeed all the arms of government that a fundamental principle of democracy is adherence to the rule of law, under which no one is above or below the law.
We also remind them of their duty as clearly spelt out in the Constitution in Section 14(2)(b): “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” Section 34 of the same constitution mandates that the government should protect the dignity of all citizens.
However, we note the converse in Nigeria: the powerful know that they are just a phone call away from exoneration. In contrast, the indigent know they are only one step away from oppression and the loss of their freedoms at all times. The right to dignity is often a function of “Do you know who I am?”.
We insist on the fulfilment of the constitution: we are all equal before the law and should be treated as such.
In light of this incident, we demand the following actions:
- The Nigerian Police and Ministry of Justice should ensure justice is served. Mr. Ikwechegh must be prosecuted for his actions. Like any other suspect, he enjoys the rights afforded under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended. He should not the enjoy any other special privileges, including being remanded in a ‘special cell’.
- The immediate suspension of Mr. Ikwechegh by the House of Representatives, in line with House Rules. If the House fails to act, it will imply tacit approval of the oppression of citizens whom they are elected to represent.
- Mr. Stephen Abuwatseya must enjoy full protection from intimidation by Nigerian law enforcement and they must ensure he has ease of access to file a complaint against his attacker.
- The National Human Rights Commission as the vanguard for human rights must ensure that this matter is given the priority it deserves and ensure that the influence that Mr. Ikwechgh and his cohort wield does not prejudice the outcome of this case.
We take this opportunity to call attention to the numerous issues plaguing Nigeria’s justice system, including the horrors of the remand detention system and the plight of thousands awaiting trial. Urgent and critical reforms in our justice system are long overdue.
As a coalition of organized civil society groups across Nigeria, we pledge to continue to amplify citizens’ voices and demand accountability from the government.
Signed: - 21st Century Community Empowerment for Youth and Women Initiative
- Abubakar Mohammed
- Accountability Lab
- ACE-Nigeria
- Advocacy Centre for Development
- African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL)
- African Law Foundation (AFRILAW)
- Alliances for Africa (AFA)
- Amnesty International Nigeria
- Baobab for Women’s Human Rights
- Bauchi Human Rights Network
- BENDEF
- BOCODEP
- BudgIT
- Bwatiye Community Development Association
- Cedar Seed Foundation
- CEE- HOPE
- Centre for Community Excellence (CENCEX )
- Centre for Social Justice
- Centre LSD
- Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)
- Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
- Citizens Advocacy for Social & Economic Rights (CASER)
- Clean Technology Hub
- CLEEN Foundation
- Community Life Project (CLP)
- Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA)
- Companions for the Development of Jibia Local Government Area
- Connected Advocacy
- Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR)
- Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA)
- Disabled People in Leadership Initiative and Network of Women with Disabilities
- Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF)
- Enough Is Enough
- F. S. A. F. C. I
- FEMBUD
- FENRAD
- Gatefield
- Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion
- Global Rights
- Grassroots Development Centre
- HEDA
- Human Rights Network Jigawa
- Initiative for Social Development
- Keen and Care Initiative (KCI)
- Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre
- Life and Peace Development Organisation
- Media Rights Agenda
- Mowalek Centre for Sustainable Community Development
- Neighbourhood Environment Watch Foundation
- Nextier SPD (Security, Peace and Development)
- Nigerian Network of NGOs
- Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI)
- Online Hub NG
- OrderPaper Advocacy Initiative
- Organization for Community Civic Engagement (OCCEN)
- Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN)
- Partnership for Justice and Network of Nigerian Human Rights Defenders
- Policy Alert
- PRAWA International
- Praxis Center
- Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Nigeria
- Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC)
- SBM Intelligence
- Sesor Empowerment Initiative
- SIPJAD
- Social Action
- Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre
- Sokoto Youth Council
- South Saharan Social Development Organisation
- Stephanie Peacebuilding and Development Foundation (SPADEV)
- Support Initiative for Sustainable Development
- Tap Initiative
- TechHerNG
- The Kukah Centre
- The Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED)
- Urban Alert
- We The People
- West African Drug Policy Network (WADPN)
- Woman in Media Communication Initiative (WIM)
- Women in Mining Nigeria (WIMNG)
- Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA)
- Yiaga Africa
- Yobe Youth Council