Man who named dog ‘Buhari’ gets N50, 000 bail

The Ota Magistrate’s Court 2 in Ogun State yesterday granted bail to a 30-year-old trader, Joachim Iroko, also known as Joe, who named his pet dog ‘Buhari.’
The Chief Magistrate, B. J. Ojikutu granted the bail in the sum of N50,000 after the police had arraigned the accused on a one-count charge of conduct likely to cause breach of peace. The accused was brought before the court at about 10:00am in a case with suit number MOT/617c/2016.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Itaita Ebibomini said the accused person committed the alleged offence on August 13 at Hausa section of Ketere Market in Sango-Ota in the Ota Magisterial District. The prosecutor told the court that the offence was punishable under Section 249 (d) of Criminal Code of Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2016.
The one-count charge read: “That you Joachim Iroko aka Joe and other still at large on Saturday 13th day of August 2016, at about 5:30pm at Ketere area Sango in the Ota Magisterial District did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace, by writing a name ‘Buhari’ on a dog and parading same in the Hausa section of Ketere Market Sango and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249 (d) of Criminal Code of Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2016.”
The two witnesses in the case were present in court as the accused person, who was represented by his lawyer, U. Michael pleaded not guilty to the alleged offence. His lawyer also pleaded that the accused be granted bail, arguing that the offence was bailable.
The police prosecutor did not oppose the plea for bail. In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 and two sureties who must be regular payers of their taxes in the state in the like sum. He ordered that the sureties must attach four passport photographs each to the bail bond, deposed to affidavits of being gainfully engaged and reside in the court’s jurisdiction.
The court thereafter adjourned the case till September 19. As at the time of filing this report, family members of the accused person were yet to perfect his bail conditions. The accused person, formerly identified as Joe Fortemose Chinakwe, was arrested after his neighbour identified as Halilu Umar from Sokoto State reportedly complained to the police in Sango-Ota that he named the dog after his father, Alhaji Buhari.
The embattled trader was promptly arrested and confined to detention for three days last week and later released. He was rearrested on Friday and detained at the state police headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta for subsequent arraignment in court. The police maintained that Chinakwe’s action was very provocative and capable of fuelling ethnic crisis if not well-managed