23rd August, 2016
The Ota Magistrate Court 2, Ogun State has remanded Joachim Iroko (aka Joe Chinakwe), the man who named his dog “Buhari”.
Joe was first arrested on Saturday, August 13 after one of his neighbours from Niger Republic, lodged a complaint at the Sango Police State that Chinakwe named the dog after his (neighbour’s) father, Alhaji Buhari.
He was then released and rearrested again by the police.
Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Police Command, said that Joe was picked up again based on the Force’s belief that the suspect’s action was capable of provoking an ethnoreligious crisis.
Oyeyemi according to PUNCH reports said the rearrest was to prevent the state from being plunged into crisis while adding that the complainant and his sympathisers had threatened to kill the suspect.
Joe was charged to court by the police with “conduct likely to cause breach of the peace”.
The charge, by the Prosecutor, Inspector Itaita Ebibomini, read: That you, Joachim Iroko, aka Joe, and others still at large, on Saturday, August 13, 2016, at about 5.30pm at the Ketere area, Sango, in the Ota Magisterial District did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace, by writing a name, Buhari, on a dog and parading same in the Hausa section of Ketere Market, Sango, thereby, committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Law of Ogun State, Nigeria, 2016.
Joe pleaded not guilty to the charge. His counsel, U. Michael, however, pleaded that the accused should be granted bail.
The Chief Magistrate, B. J. Ojikutu, admitted Iroko to bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum, adding that the sureties must be regular taxpayers in the state.
“They must attach four passport photographs each to the bail bond, depose to affidavits of being gainfully employed, and reside in the court’s jurisdiction,” he added.
The case was then adjourned to September 19, 2016.
As at the time of filing the report, Joe’s family members were yet to perfect the bail for his release.
He was subsequently taken to the Ibara Prison.