A Magistrates’ court sitting in Sango-Ota, Ogun State has given its verdict on the case against Joachim Iroko, who was arrested for naming his dog after President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Iroko, 41, was arrested in August 2016 and detained by the Nigeria Police for allegedly naming his pet dog ‘Buhari’.

“The Magistrate, O. O. Adebo, granted our application and the case was accordingly struck-out and Iroko walked home a free man.

“I had argued from the outset that the Nigeria Police did not have any case against Iroko and that there was no legal basis to arrest, detain and prosecute the poor trader over an alleged conduct that did not harm and could not have injured anybody. There was nothing like an attempt to cause a breach of peace ab initio.

“I want to specially commend Mr Adegboruwa for leading lawyers in defence of Mr Iroko pro bono. I appreciate Messrs Fadile Niyi and Tosin Adesioye from the chambers of Adegboruwa & Co., Mr Adeola Samuel Opeyemi and Mr Vincent Obetta who were all part of the defence team which I am proud to have been part of.

“I want to also appreciate the media for their conscientious coverage of this case and all Nigerians who had expressed support in one form or the other for Mr Iroko.

“When the incident happened in August 2016, I responded by leading a campaign for the freedom of Iroko. That this case has ended this way is a victory for justice and a boost to the image of the Nigerian Judiciary as the last hope of the oppressed and the common man.

“We hope that the Nigeria Police and their instigators will now allow reason to prevail. But if they wish to resurrect this case, we shall meet them again in court.”

Omoleye Omoruyi

Omoleye Omoruyi… an apprentice web/game developer, novelist, sensitive to happenings in the world. Meet him @Lord_rickie on Twitter/Instagram