Habeeb Okikiola, the controversial Nigerian singer popularly known as Portable, has been granted bail by a Magistrate Court in Ifo, Ifo local government area of Ogun State.
The "Zazu Zeh" crooner was granted
bail with a bond of N300,000 and two sureties from his immediate family.
However, he was remanded in Ilaro Prison until he fulfills his bail condition.
The presiding magistrate, A.S Shoneye, ruled
that Portable be transferred to the Ilaro correctional centre pending the time
his bail requirements are met. The case was adjourned to April 26 for the
commencement of the trial.
Appearing before the court on Monday,
Portable pleaded not guilty to all the charges filed against him.
Charges
Some of his charges read, “That you, BADMUS
HABEEB OKIKIOLA, M A.KA PORTABLE, and others now at large on the 28th day of
March 2023 at 11:00hrs 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 HABEEB OKIKIOLA M A.KA
PORTABLE on the same date, time and place in the Magisterial mentioned above
District, did resist to be arrested by Inspector Hammed Moshood ‘m’, ASP
Gregory Iyoha ‘m’, and 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 a 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's counsel, Adodo Destiny, prayed the
court to grant the singer bail. The magistrate stated that the offenses were
bailable and immediately granted him bail after the bail application was made
by his counsel. His counsel also stated that the singer was not guilty of the
charges.
Immediately after the court session, his
lawyers were seen running helter-skelter to perfect the bail condition
instantly.
Portable's ordeal started last Tuesday when
two videos of the musician fighting and cursing some men of the Nigeria police
surfaced on the internet. The police ordered the singer to report at the
nearest police station within 72 hours but he failed to do so, leading to his
arrest.
The police condemned his actions and
threatened to prosecute him. In the two videos, Portable claimed that an
internet fraudster had brought the police to his bar to arrest his staff
members "for no reason." However, the police noted that it acted on a
petition.
On Friday, the Ogun State Police Public
Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed that the singer had been
arrested and is currently at the state headquarters of the police in Eleweran,
Abeokuta. Mr. Oyeyemi further said the Zazu crooner was arrested after refusing
five invitations.
The court granted Portable bail, but the
singer remains in custody until the bail conditions are met. The case has been
adjourned to April 26 for the commencement of the trial.
Post a Comment