A Kuje Magistrates’ Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, granted a N500,000 bail to House of Representatives member, Alex Ikwechegh, for allegedly assaulting a Bolt driver at his residence in Zamfara Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, on Sunday.

The federal lawmaker representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on abuse of office, assault and threat to life.

The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the First Information Report that the office of the Inspector-General of Police filed against him, after which the prosecution counsel, A. Umar, applied for a date for full-blown hearing of the matter.

The defendant’s counsel thereafter made an oral application for his client to be released on bail, pending the determination of the case, since the charge against him is bailable, insisting that he was still presumed innocent, according to the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The Presiding Magistrate, Abubakar Umar Sai’id, granted the bail application in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, adding that the sureties must reside within its jurisdiction and provide their utility bills as proof of residence.

The case was therefore adjourned to November 8 for trial.

The lawmaker was in a video that went viral on Monday assaulting a Bolt driver, after he felt disrespected for asking him to come out to collect his package containing snails, from the E-hailing vehicle, instead of him taking the package into his (lawmaker’s) house.

During the altercation between the pair, Mr Ikwechegh was seen punching and slapping the driver, while threatening to lock him up in his generator house and make him “disappear” without repercussion.