The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone II, Abdulmajid Ali, has described as unfair comments linking President Muhammadu Buhari to the prosecution of the man, who named his dog ‘Buhari’ in Ogun State.
Ali spoke in a statement by the police zonal spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, a Superintendent of Police (SP).
The statement said Joe Chinakwe was arrested and arraigned for conduct likely to cause the breach of public peace under Section 249(d) of the Criminal Code.
According to him, those attributing the trial to the President misconstrued the matter, adding that Chinakwe’s action would have led to ethnic crisis at Ketere, Sango Ota in Ado Odo Ota Local Government of Ogun State, but for the timely intervention of the police.
“The case has nothing to do with President Muhammadu Buhari but with Alhaji Buhari, the biological father of the complainant, Alhaji Halilu Umar, all of Ketere in Sango Otta.
“It is fundamental to state that the man was not charged to court for christening his dog, Buhari, but for his behaviour and circumstances surrounding the matter. He has been living in conflict with his neighbour, the complainant, and he named his dog, Buhari, his neighbour’s father’s name.
“He inscribed Buhari on both sides of the dog, and started parading the dog with swagger among his neighbours and traders, who are mostly northerners.
“Joe was actually attacked by the people around for his action before he was rescued by the police. The timely intervention of the police prevented a crisis or inter-tribal crisis.
“The zonal command seeks the understanding of the public on the action of the man, which was capable of causing a breach of public peace, an offence the man, Joe Chinakwe, was actually charged with under Section 249(d) of the Criminal Code.
“The AIG Ali appeals to the public to understand the action of the police in the matter, which is in consonance with the primary duties of the Police as enshrined in the constitution, and accept it as a professional way of preventing the breakdown of law and order,” said Adejobi.
