>
By Emmanuel Adeleke
Controversial singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has been granted bail by a Magistrate Court sitting in Ifo, Ogun State.
Portable was arraigned before the court by the Ogun State Police Command for assault, on Monday.
Recall that Portable had been detained at the police headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, since last Friday after ignoring many invites.
Part of that charges against the singer read: “That you Badmus Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, and others now at large on March 28, 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, 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 20th 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.”
Portable was also accused of assaulting one of his boys.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.
The magistrate granted him bail in the sum N300,000, with two sureties from his immediate family.
The court held that Portable must fulfil the bail condition before leaving the court premises.
He is to be remanded at the Ilaro Correctional Centre until he perfects the condition of his bail.
The case was subsequently adjourned adjourned to April 26.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had earlier said Portable will face more than six charges bordering on alleged assault in court.
Ogun State Police Command Public Relation Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, had last week said Portable was arrested after refusing five invitations, adding that the musician was arrested for an alleged assault.
The police spokesperson stated that the controversial singer was arrested after the expiration of the 72-hour ultimatum given to him.
However, the singer, in a statement shared on his Instagram page on Saturday, April 1, said he is confident the police will conduct their investigation diligently, adding that he is positive.
Portable further stressed that he went to the police station himself to honour the invitation of the police.
The ‘Zazoo Zeh’ crooner’s saga began last Tuesday after he had resisted arrest by the policemen in Ogun State.