Controversial singer Habeeb Okikiola, better known as Portable, has been arraigned on Thursday at the Isabo High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
This comes a day after he turned himself in at the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department in Yaba, following a declaration by the Ogun State Police Command that he was wanted.
He was handed over to the Ogun state police command and presented in court to face charges.
The singer was arraigned on a five-count charge, including conspiracy, assault and restriction, armed with cutlasses and guns and conduct likely to cause harm. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
After pleading not guilty, Oluwatoyin Ayodele, Portable’s counsel, urged the court to grant him bail.
Ayodele assured the court that Portable was remorseful and had learned his lesson.
O.L. Oke, the magistrate, granted the singer bail in the amount of N2 million with one surety in the like sum. The case was adjourned until March 5 for trial.
The charges against Portable stem from a February 5 incident in which he allegedly led an attack on officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development during an enforcement exercise at his bar in Sango Ota.
The officials sustained injuries and while nine of his associates were arrested at the scene, the singer managed to evade capture until his surrender on Wednesday.
Born on March 12, 1994, in Abeokuta, Portable rose to fame in 2021 with the hit single ZaZoo Zehh, featuring Olamide and Poco Lee.
His career has been riddled with controversies, including clashes with fellow musicians and accusations of violent conduct.
The Ogun State Government has strongly condemned his actions, labeling him a “serial dissident and unrepentant rascal.”
