A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Sango-Otta on Tuesday dismissed
charges filed against a resident of the Ogun State community for
naming his dog ‘Buhari.’
The magistrate, O.O. Adebo, said the prosecution failed to
substantiate its case against Joachim Iroko, consequently striking
out all charges preferred against him.
Mr. Iroko’s lawyer was ecstatic Tuesday, praising the court for
the verdict.
Mr. Iroko, 41, was arrested in August 2016 for causing a breach
of peace after he was reported by his neighbour who alleged
insensitivity in Mr. Iroko’s action.
The neighbour, identified as Haliru Umar from Sokoto State, said
Mr. Iroko harboured sinister motives when he gave his name the same
name as President Muhammadu Buhari.
The arrest of Mr. Iroko sparked nationwide outrage in August
2016 and critics accused the police of stifling constitutionally
guaranteed freedom to satisfy the president.
The police denied that Mr. Iroko’s ordeal had anything to do
with the president but strictly about the breach of peace
complaints received from his neighbour.
The presidency also reacted to the arrest when Presidential
spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said the president paid more attention
to cartoon pages in the newspapers rather than following Mr.
Iroko’s case that was generating nationwide furore at the time.
But a lack of diligent prosecution prompted Mr. Adebo to free
Mr. Iroko at the resumed trial Tuesday.
The magistrate said the prosecution failed to provide witnesses
since December 2016, and, at some point, stopped appearing for
hearing.
A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Sango-Otta on Tuesday dismissed
charges filed against a resident of the Ogun State community for
naming his dog ‘Buhari.’
The magistrate, O.O. Adebo, said the prosecution failed to
substantiate its case against Joachim Iroko, consequently striking
out all charges preferred against him.
Mr. Iroko’s lawyer was ecstatic Tuesday, praising the court for
the verdict.
Mr. Iroko, 41, was arrested in August 2016 for causing a breach
of peace after he was reported by his neighbour who alleged
insensitivity in Mr. Iroko’s action.
The neighbour, identified as Haliru Umar from Sokoto State, said
Mr. Iroko harboured sinister motives when he gave his name the same
name as President Muhammadu Buhari.
The arrest of Mr. Iroko sparked nationwide outrage in August
2016 and critics accused the police of stifling constitutionally
guaranteed freedom to satisfy the president.
The police denied that Mr. Iroko’s ordeal had anything to do
with the president but strictly about the breach of peace
complaints received from his neighbour.
The presidency also reacted to the arrest when Presidential
spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said the president paid more attention
to cartoon pages in the newspapers rather than following Mr.
Iroko’s case that was generating nationwide furore at the time.
But a lack of diligent prosecution prompted Mr. Adebo to free
Mr. Iroko at the resumed trial Tuesday.
The magistrate said the prosecution failed to provide witnesses
since December 2016, and, at some point, stopped appearing for
hearing.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/court-frees-man-who-named-dog-buhari/