President knew nothing about `dog Buhari`saga, say police

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NIGERIA: THE police in Ogun State and Zone 2 have dissociated President Muhammadu Buhari from the arrest and trial of Joe Chinakwe, the man who named his dog “Buhari.”

The Ogun State Police Command on Monday said in a statement made available to journalists that the series of uncomplimentary remarks against the President over the matter was uncalled for.

Similarly, the Zonal Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, stated that the “Buhari” dog issue was grossly misconstrued, adding that the President has nothing to do with it.

‎“The attention of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos, AIG Abdulmajid Ali, has been drawn to series of uncomplimentary comments and publications in respect of the case of a man, Joe Chinakwe, who was arrested and charged to court by the Ogun State Police Command for naming his dog ‘Buhari’ and wishes to state categorically that the matter was grossly misconstrued,” the Zonal PRO said.

Adejobi also explained that one Alhaji Buhari, the biological father of the complainant, Halilu Umar, of Ketere area, Sango-Ota in Ado/Odo-Ota Local Government, who was involved in the case, brought it to the police.

“The Zonal Command wishes to clarify and set the records straight that the case as it was erroneously perceived, has nothing to do with the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Mohammad Buhari, but with one Alhaji Buhari, the biological father of the complainant, Alhaji Halilu Umar, all of Ketere Area, Sango Otta in Ado Odo Otta Local Government Area of Ogun State,” he said.

He also said: “Also, it’s fundamental to state that the man was not charged to court for christening his dog Buhari, but for the behaviors of the suspect and circumstances surrounding the matter when Mr. Joe, who had been having conflicts with his neighbor, (complainant) named his dog Buhari, his neighbor’s father’s name, inscribed Buhari on both sides of the said dog, and started parading the dog with swagger amongst his neighbors and/ traders who are mostly northerners.”

“The said Joe was actually attacked by the people around for his action before he was rescued by the police,“ the PRO said, adding: “The timely intervention of the police prevented a crisis, or inter-tribal crisis in the area.”

‎“The Zonal Command therefore seeks the understanding of members of the public on the action of the man, which was capable of causing breach of public peace, an offense the man, Joe Chinakwe, was actually charged for under section 249(d) of the Criminal Code,” Adejobi emphasised.

“The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Lagos, AIG Abdulmajid Ali, appeals to the general public to understand the action of the police in the matter, which is in consonance with the primary duties of the Nigeria Police Force as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and accept it as a professional way of preventing total breakdown of law and order,” Adejobi further stressed.

‎Similarly, Oyeyemi maintained ‎in a statement with reference number AZ: 5310/OGS/PRO/Vol 5/125 dated August 29 that the President had no connection with the controversy.

Oyeyemi said: “The attention of Ogun State Police Command has been drawn to a story in some section of the media regarding the case of Joeaxim Iroko who named his dog Buhari and was subsequently arrested and charged to court.”

The Ogun PRO stated that the fact of the case was that one Halilu Umar of Ketere area went to Sango Police Station to report his neighbor whom he claimed provoked him.

According to Umar, he got angry after seeing Iroko inscribing his father’s name, ‘Buhari’, on both sides of his dog knowing full well that it is his father’s name.

Oyeyemi said: “The suspect was invited and he did not deny the allegation. All efforts to resolve the matter amicably between the two parties proved futile and it was about to degenerate to a serious crisis within the area, hence the command took a proactive step by charging the case to court in order to avert unnecessary blood shedding.

“The command wants to make it clear to members of the public that the case has nothing to do with the President as some media are painting it to be. It is a clear case between the complainant and the suspect whose action was seen as one that is likely to cause breach of peace.”

He, however, explained that it was the duty of the police to protect life and property and to guard against anything that can lead to breakdown of law and order, which was exactly what the command did.