November 08, (THEWILL) – A legal practitioner, Silas Onwugbonu, of Deji Adeyanju and Partners, has announced his withdrawal from representing a bolt driver, Steven Abuwatseya, in the alleged assault case against Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, the lawmaker representing Aba North/South Federal Constituency In the House of Representatives.
The withdrawal followed a public apology issued by Abuwatseya to the lawmaker, where he urged Nigerians to move on from the incident.
In a statement on Friday, Onwugbonu said the withdrawal is in light of the recent development and his client’s unwillingness to proceed with the case.
The statement read in parts, “On October 28, 2024, Mr Steven Abuwatseya walked into our law firm, visibly distressed, and sought redress over an alleged assault.
“Following his complaint, and having verified his claim, we took steps to protect Mr. Steven Abuwatseya’s right, culminating in the arraignment of the alleged assaulter.
“However, in view of recent developments and after careful consideration, we have made the decision to withdraw our legal representation in order to protect our professional integrity and maintain the highest ethical standard in the legal profession.
“We wish Mr Steven Abuwatseya the very best, while we assure the general public of our continuous commitment towards protecting the rights of the oppressed and indigent members of the society.”
THEWILL had reported that the bolt driver was allegedly assaulted by the lawmaker when he went to deliver a package to him.
A viral video of the incident shared on X by former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, caught the enraged lawmaker assaulting the Bolt driver for asking him to pick up a delivery.
“Do you know who I am? Can you imagine this rat, I can make him disappear in Nigeria and nothing will happen. I will not even call my police. I will beat you up myself and lock you in my dogs’ house. I’ll beat you up and lock you in my generator house. I will make you disappear in the whole of Nigeria. Call IGP, record me”, Ikwechegh roared as he slapped the driver multiple times.
Following the incident, Ikwechegh was arrested and arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Kuje, Abuja, where he was granted bail of N500,000.
He also issued a public apology, acknowledging his actions and expressing regret over his behaviour during the altercation.
In a message posted on Instagram, the lawmaker apologised to the Bolt driver, the Nigeria Police Force, and the National Assembly, admitting that his actions did not meet the standards expected of a public official, regardless of the provocation involved.
However, in a shocking turn of events, the bolt driver apologised to the lawmaker and thanked everyone who stood by him throughout his travails.
“Good day, Nigerians. My name is Stephen Abuwatseya. I had a misunderstanding with Rt. Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh a few days ago. I actually want to apologise to him for whatever I must have said or done to provoke him to that level of anger.
“I want to tell Nigerians that it’s not time for us to start dividing ourselves based on religion, tribes, or regions. We should actually come together, see how we can unite this nation, and move it forward.
“Please, Nigerians, let’s forgive and forget, as it’s even contained in our Lord’s Prayer, that ‘Lord, please forgive us, as we forgive those who trespass against us.’ For there is no justice without forgiveness. Thank you very much”, he stated.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
