The House of Representatives has condemned the assault on a ride-hailing driver by a member of the lower lawmaking House.
A video of Alex Ikwechegh assaulting Stephen Abuwatseya and threatening him had gone viral, prompting condemnations from Nigerians.
Hours after the video emerged, the House of Representatives said it was concerned over the incident which it takes “seriously”.
“These reports, which have garnered widespread media coverage and public attention, detail accusations of a physical confrontation with an e-hailing driver, Citizen Stephen Abuwatseya, and the use of threatening language,” Reps spokesman Akin Rotimi Jr said in a late Monday statement.
“The 10th Assembly, House of Representatives, takes these allegations very seriously. As elected officials, we hold ourselves to the highest standards of ethical conduct and accountability in our official engagements and privately.
Any behaviour that falls short of these standards is a matter of concern, and we are committed to addressing such issues with the utmost seriousness.
We are aware that the matter is now before the Nigeria Police, and we urge the public to allow the due process of investigation to unfold. We welcome further engagement from the public on the subject, which can be shared via email at akintunde.rotimi@nass.gov.ng, akinrotimi@gmail.com, even as we continue to monitor the situation.
“We remain dedicated to upholding the values of accountability, transparency, and ethical behavior that define the 10th Assembly, House of Representatives. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.”
Following the development, police authorities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said the lawmaker from Abia State was in its custody.
“Currently, the suspect is at the Maitama Police Station undergoing questioning,” the police said in a statement.