Controversial hip‑hop artist Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, regained his freedom from the Ilaro Correctional Centre on Monday after being remanded there earlier in the week. Earlier that day, an Ogun State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ifo, Ifo Local Government Area, granted him bail in the sum of N300,000. The state police command had arraigned him on five counts, including assault, after he was accused of attacking policemen who visited his bar on official duty.
Magistrate A.S. Shoneye, delivering his ruling on the bail application presented by Portable’s counsel, Adodo Destiny, noted that the offences were bailable. He ordered that the musician be released on bail with a bond of N300,000 and two sureties residing within the court’s jurisdiction. However, the magistrate also directed that Portable be transferred to the Ilaro Correctional Centre pending compliance with the bail conditions.
Victor Oyeleke, spokesman for the Nigerian Correctional Service in the state, confirmed to Metro that Portable had satisfied the bail conditions and left custody. “He has perfected the bail conditions and he just left the custody,” Oyeleke told the correspondent.
Portable had previously pleaded not guilty to all charges. Among the counts were allegations that, on 28 March 2023 at 11 a.m. in Odogwu Bar, Oke‑Osa, Ilogbo, Ifo, he willfully caused physical injury to Inspector Hammed Moshood by striking his nose with an elbow, causing bleeding, in violation of Section 4(1) of the Violence Against Persons and Prohibition Laws of Ogun State, 2017. Another count alleged that he resisted arrest by Inspector Moshood, ASP Gregory Iyoha, and ASP Kunle Badmus after being served a police invitation letter on 20 January 2023, constituting an offence under Section 197 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006.
The case was adjourned to 26 April for the commencement of trial. State Police Public Relations Officer SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, while briefing journalists at the command’s headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, said Portable was arrested for allegedly assaulting an individual named Osimusi Emmanuel and also for attacking police officers who came to his bar to arrest him.
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