Falana berates presidency over arrest of Joachim Iroko

– Falana insists that anybody has the right to label a dog with his desired name

– The human rights activist asks Buhari to sue for libel instead of public prosecution

– He also adds that the man did not commit any criminal offence

Radical human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has hit at President Muhammadu Buhari over the arrest and prosecution of the man who named a dog after him (Buhari).

41-year-old Joachim Iroko had been arrested and charged to court in Ogun state on Monday, August 22, for reportedly naming his dog ‘Buhari’.

He was later granted bail of N50,000 by Chief Magistrate Bolaji Ojikutu who adjourned till September 19, but the case has not been totally forgotten by human rights activists, especially the outspoken Falana.

He argued that the presidency had no right whatsoever, to prosecute the man based on the allegations leveled against him.

He said: “I am going to request the attorney-general of Ogun State to discontinue the frivolous charge.”


According to Premium Times, Falana said that labeling his dog with his desired name was in exercise of Iroko’s fundamental rights to free speech which should not be curtailed by the Nigerian state.

Falana added: “It is against Section 36(9) of the Constitution to charge a man for a criminal offence that is unknown to law.

“It is also illegal to use the machinery of government to harass any citizen.

“If the president is aggrieved by the naming of dog after him, he is at liberty to sue for libel. But the police cannot invoke criminal proceeding to intimidate the fellow.”

Meanwhile, just after his release from prison, Joachim Chinakwe Iroko, the man who named his dog Buhari, has revealed that he does not hate the Nigerian president.

He, in fact, said the president was his mentor and that he had other dogs named after other prominent leaders of the world.

The presidency has also reacted to the arrest and release of the man who popularity soared after he named his dog Buhari.

According to Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on Media and Publicity, those linking the arrest of Chinakwe to President Buhari following the dog incident are just displaying their ignorance of the type of person the president is.