Portable affirms his mental stability in court, case adjourned until March 5
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Street hop artiste Portable (real name Habeeb Okikiola) has been granted a N2 million by an Abeouta Magisterate’s Court where he was arraigned on Thursday over his altercation with the Ogun government which accused him of lawlessness.
He faces charges of assault and obstruction of government officials.
Portable was declared wanted by Ogun Police Command on Monday and he surrendered himself to Lagos State Criminal Investigations Department on Wednesday and was transferred to Ogun Police Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.
The five charges of conspiracy, assault, restriction, being armed with cutlasses and guns, and conduct likely to cause harm were read out to him in court on Thursday.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
His counsel Oluwatoyin Ayodele pleaded for bail, assuring the court that Portable “is now remorseful and has learnt his lessons.”
Magistrate O. L. Oke granted bail in the sum of N2 million with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case until March 5 for trial.
Nine of Portable’s aides were also arraigned on similar charges before the magistrate.
They include Nurudeen Warris (21), Adetola Alashe (25), Samuel Adeleke (28), Oluwaseun Ayenuwa (19), Oluwapelumi Adeosun (20), Gospel Kanu (20), Precious Ohiegebo (19), Ifeoluwa Babatunde (27), and Fatimo Muhammed (26), were charged with felony, assault, obstruction, and conduct likely to breach public peace.
The Ogun government had condemned Portable’s alleged actions on February 13, describing him as a “serial dissident and unrepentant rascal.”
That came after he allegedly got involved in a violent altercation with three officials of Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development (PPUD) – Onabanjo Abidemi, Raymond Lateef, and Ridwan Oyero Akinlesi – during an enforcement exercise at his bar in Oke-Osa, Tigbo Ilu Ota.
The officials said they initially encountered Portable’s father at Odogwu Bar, who informed them that his son was not available. Moments later, Portable allegedly arrived armed with a firearm and, along with nine thugs, launched an attack on the unarmed officials.
Police confirmed that the enforcement officials sustained injuries but managed to escape and report the incident to the Ota Area Police Command, which escalated the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department.
Portable took to Instagram on Tuesday in a series of rants, claiming that he was being set up because he wore a vest featuring the image of Senator Adeola Solomon, alias Yayi (APC, Ogun West).
He also announced that he was mentally unstable and has a medical history at the psychiatric hospital.
“I fear government. I am a federal government liability. I am a madman; I have medications that I usually take. You can confirm from Aro Hospital. I have a card that certifies me as one of their patients,” Portable said.
But on Thursday he made a U-turn in court where he affirmed that he is mentally stable.
Read also:
Babangida in his rehabilitation book denies killing Dele Giwa
