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| Nigeria's Buhari: dog owner cleared after court saga over name | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Charges have been dropped against a 41-year-old Nigerian man who named his dog after President Muhammadu Buhari. | Charges have been dropped against a 41-year-old Nigerian man who named his dog after President Muhammadu Buhari. |
| Joachim Iroko, a market trader also known as Joe Fortemose Chinakwe, was arrested in 2016 accused of conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace. | Joachim Iroko, a market trader also known as Joe Fortemose Chinakwe, was arrested in 2016 accused of conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace. |
| A judge in south-west Ogun state found the prosecution had failed to substantiate the charges against him. | A judge in south-west Ogun state found the prosecution had failed to substantiate the charges against him. |
| The arrest sparked nationwide outrage. Critics accused the police of stifling constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. | The arrest sparked nationwide outrage. Critics accused the police of stifling constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. |
| At the time, presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said that Mr Buhari must be having a good laugh about the story and that anyone linking him to the dog incident was displaying their ignorance. | At the time, presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said that Mr Buhari must be having a good laugh about the story and that anyone linking him to the dog incident was displaying their ignorance. |
| Speaking to Nigeria's daily Vanguard newspaper after the ruling, Mr Iroko said he had been vindicated and thanked all those who had spoken out on his behalf. | Speaking to Nigeria's daily Vanguard newspaper after the ruling, Mr Iroko said he had been vindicated and thanked all those who had spoken out on his behalf. |
| Mr Iroko's lawyer said the prosecution had repeatedly failed to present witnesses and that the complainant was also absent. | Mr Iroko's lawyer said the prosecution had repeatedly failed to present witnesses and that the complainant was also absent. |
| The man who lodged the complaint in August 2016 was reported to be a neighbour. | The man who lodged the complaint in August 2016 was reported to be a neighbour. |
| 'My hero' | 'My hero' |
| Mr Iroko walked his pet - with the name Buhari painted on both flanks - in an area where support for the president was high, police said at the time. | Mr Iroko walked his pet - with the name Buhari painted on both flanks - in an area where support for the president was high, police said at the time. |
| Officers said they were worried the move could antagonise people, though he insisted it was meant as a compliment and that people had misunderstood him. Mr Iroko said he named his dogs after his role models, and that others had been called Nelson Mandela and Obama. | Officers said they were worried the move could antagonise people, though he insisted it was meant as a compliment and that people had misunderstood him. Mr Iroko said he named his dogs after his role models, and that others had been called Nelson Mandela and Obama. |
| "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." | "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." |
| He later told local media he had received death threats over the perceived slight. | He later told local media he had received death threats over the perceived slight. |