The man who named his dog Buhari,
Joachim Iroko, aka Joe, was remanded on Monday at the Ibara Prison
following his arraignment at the Ota Magistrate Court 2, Ogun State.
He was charged to court by the police
with conduct likely to cause breach of the peace, in a case with suit
number MOT/617c/2016.
The prosecutor, Inspector Itaita
Ebibomini, said the accused committed the offence on Saturday, August
13, 2016, at the 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 Law of Ogun
State, Nigeria, 2016.
The accused, who was represented by a counsel, U. Michael, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The charge 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.”
His counsel, however, pleaded that the
accused should be granted bail. The prosecutor did not oppose the
application for bail. The two witnesses in the case were present in
court.
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 adjourned till September 19, 2016.
Iroko, who had been formerly identified
as Joe Fortemose Chinakwe, was arrested on Saturday, August 13, after
one of his neighbours, who is of Northern extraction, complained that he
named the dog after his father, Alhaji Buhari.
The suspect was first taken to the Sango
Police Station, from where he was transferred to the state police
command headquarters at Eleweran, Abeokuta.
However, as of press time, his family
members had yet to perfect the bail for his release. He was subsequently
taken to the Ibara Prison.
