Ogun court remands Portable in prison custody after arraignment for assault

An Ogun Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ifo, yesterday, remanded controversial singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, in Ilaro correctional centre, pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

The ‘Zazoo Zeh’ crooner was arraigned by the police on a six-count charge bordering on assault. Portable landed in police custody on Friday, March 31, 2023, after his engagement with police officers at his bar, during which one of them was allegedly injured.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, had said the controversial singer would face more than six charges in court. The Guardian learnt that Portable was granted bail in the sum of N300,000, and to provide two sureties with landed properties within the court vicinity.

Some of the charges read: “That you, Badmus Habeebat Okikiola, m, A.KA Portable, and others now at large on March 28, 2023, at about 11:00a.m. at Odogwu Bar, Oke-Osa, Ilogbo, Ifo in the Ifo Magisterial District, did willfully cause or inflict physical injury on one Inspector Hammed Moshood ‘m’, with your elbow on his nose, which caused blood to gush out from his nose, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 4 (1) of the Violence against persons & Prohibition Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2017.

“That you, Badmus Okikiola A.KA Portable on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did resist to be arrested by Inspector Hammed Moshood, ‘m’, ASP Gregory Iyoha, ‘m’, ASP Kunle Badmus, ‘m’, after serving you with Police invitation letter on January 20, 2023, for the offences you committed when they were about to discharge their duty with warrant of arrest on you, thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 197 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.”

Portable pleaded not guity to the charges when they were read to him. His counsel, Adodo Destiny, however, prayed the court to grant the defendant bail.

Ruling on the application for bail made by his counsel, Magistrate A.S Shoneye said the offences were bailable and granted him bail to the tune of N300,000 with two sureties, who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

The court, however, ordered that the defendant be transferred to the Ilaro correctional centre, pending the time his bail requirements were met and adjourned to April 26 for the commencement of trial.

Portable was arrested on Friday after the expiration of the 72-hour ultimatum given to him by the police to turn himself in. His saga began last Tuesday after he allegedly resisted arrest by the police in Ogun State.

The singer argued that the arrest was “unwarranted”, adding that he makes his money “legitimately.” The 29-year-old also referred to himself as “a Federal Government liability”.