SAN FRANCISCO, August 22, (THEWILL) – Joachim Chinakwe, the 40-year-old trader who was arrested on August 13, 2016, for naming his dog Buhari, has been arraigned on Monday before a Sango Magistrate Court, Ogun State.
The charge read in part, “That you, Joachim Iroko ‘m’ (a.k.a Joe) and another still at large on the13th Day of August, 2016 at about 1730hrs at Ketere area Sango, in the Ota Magisterial District did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by writing a name BUHARI on a dog and parading same in the Hausa section of Ketere market Sango Ota and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 249(d) of Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.”
The accused however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
THEWILL recalls that Chinakwe was arrested after one of his neighbours of Northern extraction, complained bitterly that he named his dog after his father, Alhaji Buhari and reported the case at Sango Police Station, after which the trader was arrested and detained.
Efforts by the police to recover the dog, which they intended using as evidence failed as the suspect allegedly asked his friends secretly to kill the dog and possibly eat the meat in order to avoid being implicated.
However, appeals by his friends and relations for the police to grant him bail failed as the complainant threatened to kill the trader if he was released on bail claiming it was derogatory because his father answers Buhari.
Acting Police spokesman in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi, ASP, has confirmed the incident.
“The man bought a dog and inscribed Buhari on both sides of its body. One Mallam lodged a complaint and when our men got there, we found out that it was true,” he said.
“You know such thing can cause serious breach of the peace and ethnic or religious unrest. We are charging him to court for conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.”
Story by David Oputah.
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