Controversial Singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has been granted bail by a Magistrate’s Court in Ifo, Ogun state, on Monday morning.
The singer landed in police net on Friday, March 31, 2023, after physically engaging police officers at his bar with one of them was allegedly injured.
Portable, arrested by the Police at the expiration of an ultimatum to submit himself voluntarily, was subsequently arraigned for assault.
Reports from the Court indicated that Portable was granted bail in the sum of N300,000 and to provide two sureties with landed properties within the court vicinity.
The charges preferred against him read; “That you, Badmus Habeebat Okikiola, M, A.KA Portable, and others now at large on the 28th day of March, 2023 at 11am 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, aka 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 the 20 day of January, 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.
Delivering his ruling on application for bail made by his counsel, Magistrate A. S. Shoneye said the offences were bailable and granted him bail with bail bond of N300,000, two sureties who must reside within the jurisdiction of the honorable court.
The court, however ruled that, the defendant be transferred to the Ilaro Correctional Centre, pending when his bail requirements are fully met. The case has been adjourned till April 26 for the commencement of trial.
The Ogun Command Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, while parading Portable before journalists at the Command’s headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta on Friday, said the singer was arrested for allegedly assaulting one Osimusi Emmanuel.
SP Oyeyemi confirmed that Portable, held at the State Police headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, was arrested after refusing five invitations
Portable resisted arrest last Wednesday when Police officers visited his bar with the Force accusing him of exhibiting irrational behavior and hurling insults at officers carrying out their legal duty, an action that is punishable by the laws of Nigeria.
Several videos of Portable narrating his encounter with police officers had gone viral on social media platforms, even as the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi maintained that the singer would face more than six charges in court
Adejobi had said in a statement that; “The NPF will take all necessary steps to investigate his actions and ensure that he is prosecuted for any criminal activity he may have committed depending on the severity of the offence.
According to Adejobi; “The Police will not condone any unruly act, assault or attack on its officers who are on lawful duty. We need to respect our law enforcement agents who perpetually take the risk of maintaining law and order and fight crimes and criminality in our society.”
