justicejay:
A group of legal practitioners have waded into
the trending story of the trader who named his
dog Buhari.
The lawyers are of the opinion that Joe
Fortemose Chinakwe did not commit any
criminal offence.
The incoming Second National Vice President of
the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Monday
Ubani, on Tuesday, speaking with newsmen in
Lagos said, “In the eye of the law, it is not
criminal for somebody to name his or her dog
after another person.”
“I understand that a particular dog was named
after a neighbour and both of them were not in
good terms in a Hausa community somewhere
in the South-West.
“It may be offensive by examining the
circumstances under which the incident
happened. So expediency would have prevailed
on him not to name his dog after somebody he
was quarrelling with.
“Anything you are doing must be with wisdom.
The Bible says wisdom profited for direction. If
such a thing would provoke unnecessary
argument, you should avoid it,” Ubani advised.
A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Tunji Muyedeen, in
his opinion said, “As far as I am concerned,
there is no way such offence could be sustained
in law.
“The motive of an accused is never and can
never be established by the charge: it must be
established by evidence. Anybody can name his
pet after anybody’s name. He can even call the
pet his name.
“However, spurious charge or charges may be
preferred against such person. We will see what
evidence the prosecution has to prosecute the
accused person.
“All of us will be living witnesses to the trial of
the man,” the lawyer stated.
It would be recalled that the trader had
explained that he had been an ardent supporter
of the President and saw nothing wrong with his
action.
Upon his arrest, he had insisted: “I did not
commit any offence. I named my beloved pet
dog Buhari, who is my hero. My admiration for
Buhari started far back when he was a military
Head of State.”
The 30-year-old trader was on Monday
remanded at the Ibara Prison following his
arraignment at the Ota Magistrate Court 2,
Ogun State.
He was charged to court by the police with
conduct likely to cause breach of the peace, in a
case with suit number MOT/617c/2016 and the
case was adjourned till September 19, 2016 by
the Chief Magistrate, B. J. Ojikutu.