Here’s why singer Portable is in court – facing two years in prison if found guilty

Controversial hip hop artist, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable was on Monday sent to the prison pending the perfection of bail conditions granted to him by the court on alleged assualt.

He was arraigned before at the Magistrate Court sitting in Ifo in Ifo Local government area of Ogun statee

The Zazoo crooner was brought before the court on a five-count charge bordering on assault and stealing.

He had been detained since Friday following a petition written by one Osimusi Emmanuel.

Appearing before the court on Monday, Portable pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred 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.

Soneye ordered that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment to the Ogun Government.

What does Sections 4(1) and 197 of the Criminal Code say?

Any person who in any manner obstructs or resists any public officer while engaged in the discharge or attempted discharge of the duties of his office under any order, Act, law, or Statute, or obstructs or resists any person while engaged in the discharge or attempted discharge of any duty imposed on him by an order, Act, law, or statute, is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for two years.