Man who named dog 'Alhaji Buhari', charged to court, remanded in prison

Following his failure to meet his bail conditions, Joe Fortemose Chinakwe, the 30-year-old Ogun State-based trader who hugged controversy by naming his pet dog'Alhaji Buhari', was, yesterday, Monday, August 22, remanded at Ibara Prison by an Ota Magistrates' Court 2, sitting in the Sango-Ota area of the state.

Also Read: "Funny Twist: Man who named dog after Buhari said PMB is his hero"

Chinakwe, also known as Joachim Iroko, was arraigned in the court by the police on a one-count charge of conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, in a case with suit number MOT/617c/2016.

According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Itaita Ebibomini, 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, where he allegedly paraded the dog with the offending inscription on its body around the area, in a bid to incite his neighbours.

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.”

When the charge was read to him, Chinakwe, represented by his counsel, U. Michael, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Michael pleaded that the accused should be granted bail since the offence is a bailable one and the Chief Magistrate, B. J. Ojikutu, admitted him 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, before adjourning the case till September 19, 2016.

Also Read: "'Yanga Dey Sleep...': Trader arrested for naming pet dog 'Buhari'"

However, his failure to perfect the bail conditions for his release, meant Chinakwe had to be remanded in prison custody, pending when the bail conditions will be met.