Habeeb Okikiola, a controversial hip-hop artist better known by his stage name Portable, has been freed from O Ilaro Prison in Ogun State.
A magistrate’s court in Ifo, Ifo Local Government Area, Ogun State, granted him bail but kept him in custody until the bail requirements were fully satisfied, according to a Daily Trust report.
The Zazoo singer was taken before the court on five counts of theft and assault-related offenses.
He had been held since Friday as a result of a petition signed by a man named Osimusi Emmanuel.
Other Nigerian singers who have been detained include Portable, Burna Boy, and Naira Marley.
He appeared before the court on Monday and entered a not-guilty plea to all of the accusations made against him.
Some of the counts 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 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 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, had prayed the court to grant the singer bail.
Delivering his ruling on application for bail made by his counsel, Magistrate A.S Soneye said, the offences are bailable and granted him bail with bail bond of N300,000, two sureties who must reside within the jurisdiction of the honorable court.
The court, however ruled that, the defendant be transferred to the Ilaro correctional centre, pending the time his bail requirements are met.
The case was adjourned to the 26th of April for the commencement of trial.
