The House of Representatives member who attacked Stephen Abuwatseya, a bolt driver, last year claimed that he and his victim are now buddies.
After repeatedly slapping and cursing the driver who came to deliver a gift to him at his Abuja home, the congressman for the Aba North and South Federal Constituency (APGA) came under heavy fire.
As Ikwechegh attacked Abuwatseya, he called him a rat and even threatened to have him vanish, according to the victim’s footage.
Ikwechegh said the driver asked him to leave his residence to pick up the snail he was supposed to deliver to him, which was disrespectful given his political standing.
The 44-year-old lawmaker expressed regret for his behavior during the scandal’s peak and said that he and his victim had looked into “alternative dispute resolution methods” to resolve the matter.
But after considering the situation for three months, the congressman claimed to have gotten to know Abuwatseya and his pastor.
On Tuesday, January 28, 2024, Ikwechegh spoke on Channels TV and called the incident “a low moment” for him, calling it regrettable. Although what transpired was regrettable, I see it as a chance for me personally to get to know the young man who arrived.
We are pals today. It was brought to court, but naturally, the judge rejected it without finding any merit, he added.
He continued to quietly defend his behavior by stating that he believed the sanctity of his home was being violated and that many Nigerians were unaware of the reason behind it.
“Everyone watched the video, which was a depressing time. My home’s sanctity seemed to be being violated.”
Naturally, there is a portion of the video that you and other viewers saw, but they are genuinely unaware of what transpired before to that response.
Actions precede emotions, as they say, but what anyone must have witnessed does not reflect who I am,” he stated.
The lawmaker, however reiterated the claim that his victim is his friend and that both of them have moved on.
“The young man is my friend now. I’m very close to his bishop, his pastor. And I’ve met a bunch of new friends, and today, the whole Nigerian now knows me…I guess, we’ve moved on,” Ikwechegh stated.