Man who named dog after Buhari docked again

isaac dachen

January 19, 2017 10:25 AM

When everyone thought the case of a trader who named his dog Alhaji Buhari has been forgotten, the police has re-arraigned him in court.

Joachim Ike surrounded by his lawyers

After months of being in the doldrums,

According to one of his lawyers, Barr. Inibehe Effiong, a human rights activist, the proceedings in the case of Commissioner of Police (COP) v. Iroko could not proceed on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, owing to the unavailability of presiding Magistrate, P. J. Ojikutu who was said to be attending a screening exercise.

ALSO READ: “'Yanga Dey Sleep...': Trader arrested for naming pet dog 'Buhari'”

The 41-year-old Iroko has undergone a lot of persecution, including being remanded in prison, following his indiscretion in giving his dog the name which many assumed was an attack aimed at President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2016.

He was first arrested and detained by the police over the allegation which the authority felt could spark violence especially in the community he lived where there are lots of Hausa men.

Though he has continued to insist that he named his dog Buhari due to his love for the President, a neighbour whose father bears the same name as the President had declared that Iroko named his dog after his father.

Three lawyers were on hand to represent the suspect including Adeola Samuel Opeyemi, from Lead Solicitors, Tosin Adesioye, from the law firm of Adegboguruwa & Company as well Barr. Effiong.

ALSO READ: “Our Stand: 'Why we arrested man who named dog Buhari' - Ogun Police”

The case has been adjourned to March 20, 2017, for hearing of the motion on notice challenging the jurisdiction of the court and the competence of the charge.

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