Nigerian Police to charge man to court for naming his dog 'Buhari'

The police in Ogun State, South West Nigeria have resolved to charge a man to court for naming his dog Buhari.

Buhari is the surname of the Nigerian president, Muhammadu, who assumed office on May 29, 2015.

The spokesperson of the police in Ogun, Abimbola Oyeyemi, told PREMIUM TIMES that after investigations, the police concluded that the man’s actions could cause a “breach of public peace.”

“The Ogun State Police Command has resolved to charge the suspect to court on Monday to forestall breach of public peace which the suspect’s action may likely cause,” Mr. Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said.

“His action is a provocative one and that is why the suspect will be charged for conduct likely to cause breach of public peace,” he added, saying a one-count charge would filed.

The accused, Joe Chinakwe, 30, was arrested and confined to a police cell in Sango Otta, Ogun State, for three days last week after a neighbour complained that he named his dog Buhari, Vanguard Newspaper reported.

The neighbour, who police identified as Halilu Umar from Sokoto State, reportedly told the police that Mr. Chinakwe’s decision was aimed at ridiculing his father who was named ‘Alhaji Buhari.’

The accused told Vanguard that he named his dog ‘Buhari’ out of the personal affection he has for President Muhammadu Buhari.