Julius Okorie
Legal representatives of assaulted Bolt driver, Stephen Abuwatseya, have washed their hands off the case after the driver offered apologies to House of Representatives member representing Aba North & South Federal Constituency, Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, who pummelled him in a viral video that enraged the nation.
The said incident that attracted attention from Nigerians from far and near and the outraged that it generated led to the arrest of the House of Reps member and a statement from the House condemning the act.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Honourable himself offered an apology afterwards admitting the his conduct was not in tune with characters that can and should represent the people.
READ ALSO :Police Arrest House Of Reps Member, Mascot, Begins Investigation Into Bolt Driver’s Assault
While investigation into the matter was being awaited, Nigerians woke to hear that the assaulted has offered apology to his attacker.
The said apology has been dubbed naira induced, with Abuwatseya said to have received N5 million and a Toyota Corolla car, forcing him to make a U-turn in pursuance of the case against the honourable.
Many Nigerians who had condemned the attack have expressed shock and disappointment at the new development accusing Stephen preferring money over justice.
Some, however, said the Bolt driver has no choice considering the suffocating hardship in the country. Some also said the driver may indeed be driving to deliver and not his personal car and reasoned that the “Take this and die the matter largesse” could indeed be his own personal empowerment and retirement benefit, despite the pain of and embarrassment of the slaps, which has also been upgraded on social media.
The withdrawal of the legal firm, Adeyanju and Partners, is not unconnected with the driver’s middle of the road change of mind, which the firm considers out of tune with the pursuit of justice in the society.
In a letter dated November and posted on the firm’s X handle, signed by Zainab M Otega ESQ, the firm said in part, “We want to formally announce the withdrawal of our legal representation in the case involving the alleged assault of Mr Stephen Abuwatseya.”
The firm then used the second paragraph of the letter to narrate how Mr Stephen had approached them following his attack visibly distressed and how the firm had taken steps to protect his rights, but finally submitted that ” In view of the recent development and after careful consideration, we have made the decision to withdraw our legal representation in order to protect our professional integrity and maintain highest ethical standard of the legal profession.”
The firm however wished Stephen well.
Abuwatseya in his apology to Ikwechegh also addressed Nigerians to let the matter rest.
He stated, “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. He also went Biblical adding, “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.”
CheezyCharles @CheezyCharles reacting to the apology said “Stephen Abuwatseya apology is wild. Well, with the rate of poverty who wouldn’t receive more slaps to be compensated with a new car and N5-million afterwards? This only empowers any rich man out there to do worse and pay his way through. Human rights to the mud if you have money! Actions have consequences!”
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
