An Ogun State Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ifo Local Government Area, has fixed April 26, for commencement of trial of a controversial singer, Habeeb Okikiola popularly known as Portable, facing alleged theft and assault charges.
Portable was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Aliyu Soneye, by the Nigeria Police on a two cases with charge numbers 192/c/ 2023 and 191/c/2023
The three counts in suit 192/c/2023 bordered on assault, unruly behaviour and theft of musical equipment.
According to the Police Counsel, Inspector O. Awolana alleged that the singer on November 18, 2022, conspired with others now at large to “unlawfully assault” one Osimosu Emmanuel Oluwafemi, contrary to section 351 of the Criminal Code of Ogun State.
Portable was also accused of stealing musical gadgets listed as Yamaha H55 Studio Monitor; Complete Studio 2 Interface Connection Cable, and an AKG P420 Condenser, among others.
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The prosecution said the alleged offence contravened Section 517 of the Criminal Code of Ogun State.
Portable, however pleaded not guilty to all the counts in the two charges.
Following his plea, Portable’s counsel, Mr. Adodo Destiny, prayed the court to grant the singer bail on a liberal terms.
Ruling on the bail application, Chief Magistrate Soneye held that the offences were bailable.
He granted Portable N300,000 bail and two sureties in the like sum on the first charge.
On the charge of assault and stealing, the court admitted Portable to N500,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.
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The court subsequently, remanded him in the Ilaro Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail terms.
The case was thereafter, adjourned till April 26, for trial.
Portable, who was brought into the Correctional Centre at about 3pm, was released at about 6pm after his bail bond was presented at the facility.
Some of his charges 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 Magisterial mentioned above District, did resist to be arrested by Inspector Hammed Moshood ‘m’, ASP Gregory Iyoha ‘m’, and 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 a 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.”
