A Magistrate Court in Ifo, Ogun State has granted bail in the sum of N300,000 to musician Portable born Habeeb Okikiola.
The controversial singer was arraigned on Monday on a five-count charge of assault and theft of musical equipment such as microphone and keyboard.
One of the charges read, “That you, BADMUS HABEEB OKIKIOLA M A.KA 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…”
Portable pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.
The court also directed him to provide two sureties with landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.
Magistrate A. S. Soneye remanded him in the custody of the correctional centre pending when he meets the bail terms.
The case was adjourned till April 26 for the commencement of trial.
Portable was arrested on Friday, March 31 following his refusal to honour invitations for questioning over the alleged assault of a man.
The arrest came after the expiration of a 72-hour ultimatum given to him by the Ogun State police to report himself to the Command.
Portable had admitted assaulting the person, who petitioned the police, over an issue related to internet fraud.
Explaining what transpired in a video shared on his TikTok page on Thursday, March 30, he maintained that the alleged fraudster he assaulted was his apprentice and that it was a personal matter that should not have involved the police.
“This boy is my boy. He’s into Yahoo (internet fraud). I advised him to quit but he still dey do the scam dey go. Then I pursued him. I beat him. I flogged him. Now you want to arrest me because I flogged him? He come to write a petition about me, about a celebrity superstar,” he said.
