Rep Member Claims New Identity: ‘The Man Who Makes Things Disappear

A House of Representatives member has humorously dubbed himself ‘The Man Who Makes Things Disappear.’ Find out the story behind this intriguing self-proclaimed title.

Alex Ikwechegh, a member of the House of Representatives, humorously remarked that his altercation with a Bolt driver in Abuja in October 2024 enhanced his popularity among Nigerians as “the man who makes things disappear.”

Ikwechegh, appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Tuesday, mentioned that he has put the incident behind him and developed a friendship with the e-hailing driver, Stephen Abuwatseya.

Ikwechegh serves as the representative for Aba North and South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, affiliated with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

He stated, “The incident was quite unfortunate; however, I see it as an opportunity to build a relationship with the young man. Today, we are friends. Although I was taken to court, the case had no merit and was dismissed.”

The widely viewed video represented a difficult moment for me, as I felt my home’s sanctity was being violated. What everyone saw is just one part of the story; they aren’t aware of what led to that reaction. As it’s often said, actions trigger reactions.

“However, what people may have seen doesn’t truly reflect who I am. I’ve been in the public eye for a long time without any scandals attached to my name. The young man is now my friend, and I’m also quite close with his bishop and pastor. Through this experience, I’ve gained many new friends, and today everyone in Nigeria knows me as ‘the person who makes things disappear.’ We’ve moved on from it; it’s all behind us,” he stated.

In October of last year, a video capturing Ikwechegh assaulting Abuwatseya went viral, sparking outrage among Nigerians.

In the video, Ikwechegh angrily confronted and struck the driver while issuing threatening remarks. He said, “Can you imagine this rat? I have the power to make this man vanish anywhere in Nigeria without consequences.”

Based on the conversation captured in the viral video, it appears that the lawmaker had ordered some snails from a vendor who used an e-hailing app driver to deliver them.

A heated argument broke out when the Bolt driver reached the lawmaker’s home and requested payment. The lawmaker, however, accused the driver of being disrespectful for not stepping out of his car to deliver the goods.

The APGA lawmaker delivered three slaps to the driver’s cheeks, who remained composed despite the assault. The lawmaker taunted his victim, daring him to seek assistance from the Inspector General of Police.

Numerous Nigerians were outraged by the lawmaker’s behavior and called for justice in the case. The police soon arrested Ikwechegh and brought him before a court. Later, he apologized to both the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and his victim. The issue was resolved outside of court with compensation provided to the victim.