Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, a member of the House of Representatives, was docked before the Abuja Chief Magistrate Court in Kuje on Wednesday for allegedly attacking a bolt driver at his home in Abuja.

In response to a First Information Report filed against him by the Nigerian Police Force, the legislator, who represents the Aba North and South federal constituency of Abia State, entered a not guilty plea.

The defendant was charged with assault, misuse of office, and threat of death.

After the defendant entered a plea of innocence, Mr. A. Umar, the prosecution’s attorney, requested a date for the matter’s full hearing to start.

Nonetheless, the defendant’s attorney requested orally that he be released on bond while the matter was being decided.

The defendant argued that there were bailable crimes in the indictment against him and that the 1999 Constitution, as amended, protected his right to the presumption of innocence.

Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id ruled that he was inclined to grant the defendant’s request for bail.

As a result, he gave the legislator N500,000 bail with two sureties in the same amount.

The court emphasised that in addition to having to live within its jurisdiction, the sureties also needed to show proof of residency through their utility bills.

After that, it postponed the trial until November 8.

As you may remember, Hon. Ikwechegh was shown repeatedly hitting a bolt driver named Stephen Abuwatseya in a video footage that went viral on social media.

The federal senator claimed that he could make the motorist vanish without a trace and nothing would happen, praising the driver for what he characterised as his nasty attitude.

However, the congressman publicly apologised for his actions after his actions and statements were widely condemned.

The attorney for Mr. Deji Adeyanju, the nominal complainant and bolt driver, was among those present in court on Wednesday to observe the proceedings.