By Olaitan Ibrahim
A Magistrates Court sitting in Isabo in the Abeokuta area of Ogun State has granted bail to controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, following his arraignment on charges of assault and obstruction of government officials.
The singer was declared wanted by the state police command on Monday.
He however surrendered himself to the police at the Lagos State Criminal Investigations Department on Wednesday and was thereafter transferred to the Ogun State Police Headquarters, Eleweran.
The singer who was presented in court on Thursday faced a five-count charge, including conspiracy, assault, restriction, being armed with cutlasses and guns, and conduct likely to cause harm.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
His counsel, Oluwatoyin Ayodele, pleaded for bail, assuring the court that Portable “is now remorseful and has learnt his lessons.”
Magistrate O. L. Oke granted the singer bail in the sum of N2m with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case until March 5 for trial.
Alongside Portable, nine of his aides were also arraigned on similar charges before the magistrate.
The accused individuals, including Nurudeen Warris (21), Adetola Alashe (25), Samuel Adeleke (28), Oluwaseun Ayenuwa (19), Oluwapelumi Adeosun (20), Gospel Kanu (20), Precious Ohiegebo (19), Ifeoluwa Babatunde (27), and Fatimo Muhammed (26), were charged with felony, assault, obstruction, and conduct likely to breach public peace.
The Ogun State Government had earlier condemned Portable’s alleged actions, describing him as a “serial dissident and unrepentant rascal.”
The singer was reportedly involved in a violent altercation with three officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ota Zonal Office—TPL Onabanjo Abidemi, TPL Raymond Lateef, and TPL Ridwan Oyero Akinlesi—during an enforcement exercise at Oke-Osa, Tigbo Ilu Ota, Ogun State.
According to the officials, they initially encountered Portable’s father at the Odogwu Bar, where he informed them that his son was unavailable. Moments later, Portable allegedly arrived armed with a firearm and, along with nine thugs, launched an attack on the unarmed officials.
The police reported that the enforcement officers sustained injuries but managed to escape and report the incident to the Ota Area Command, which escalated the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department.
Reacting to the allegations, Portable took to Instagram on Tuesday in a series of rants, claiming that he was being set up because he wore a vest featuring the image of the lawmaker representing Ogun West, Senator Adeola Solomon, popularly known as Yayi. He also reiterated that he is mentally unstable and has a medical history at the psychiatric hospital.
“I fear government. I am a federal government liability. I am a madman; I have medications that I usually take. You can confirm from Aro Hospital. I have a card that certifies me as one of their patients,” he said.