The legal team representing Stephen Abuwatseye, an Abuja Bolt driver allegedly assaulted by Alex Ikwechegh, a House of Representatives member from Abia State, has officially withdrawn from the case.
Deji Adeyanju and Partners announced that they made the decision to step away from representing Abuwatseye in order to uphold their professional integrity and ensure adherence to the highest ethical standards within the legal field.
The incident reportedly took place when Abuwatseye was delivering food to the residence of Ikwechegh, who represents Aba North/South in the House of Representatives, in Abuja’s Maitama district. Following the alleged assault, Ikwechegh was arraigned at a Kuje Magistrate Court in Abuja and subsequently released on bail.
However, on Thursday, Abuwatseye publicly issued an apology to Ikwechegh, calling for unity among Nigerians in response to the situation.
In response to this development, the law firm, represented by Zainab Ortega, issued a statement: “We formally announce our withdrawal from the case involving the alleged assault of Mr. Stephen Abuwatseye.”
Ortega explained that Abuwatseye first approached the firm on October 28, 2024, visibly distressed and seeking justice after the alleged incident. The firm took on the case pro bono, verifying his claims and working to safeguard his rights, ultimately leading to the arraignment of the accused.
