Nine protégés of well-known musician Habeeb Okikiola, better known by his stage name Portable, were charged by the Ogun State Police on Thursday in a Magistrates’ Court in Isabo, Abeokuta, for allegedly attacking staff members of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development’s Ota Zonal Planning Office.
Nurudeen Warris (21), Adetola Alashe (25), Samuel Adeleke (28), Gospel Kanu (20), Precious Ohiegebo (19), Ifeoluwa Babatunde (27), Fatimo Muhammad (26), Oluwaseun Ayenuwa (19), and Oluwapelumi Adeosun (20) are the accused.
They were charged with five counts, including assault and restriction, armed with weapons and cutlasses, conduct likely to provoke a breach of peace, and wanting to kill. The charges bordered on a felony.
However, they entered a not guilty plea to the accusations.
The defendants committed the offenses on Wednesday at around 10:00 a.m. in Oke-Osa, Tigbo Ilu, Sango-Ota, according to police prosecutor Sunday Ekong, who testified in court.
Town planners Abidemi Onabanjo, Ramon Lateef, and Akinpelumi Oyero were unlawfully beaten, restrained, and hindered by the defendants and Portable, who is currently at large, according to Ekong.
“The defendants and Portable, a well-known hip-hop artist, attacked the three town planning officers at Odogwu Bar while they were carrying out their legal responsibilities.”
He added that the defendants were armed with cutlasses and guns and allegedly intended to kill the officials.
He went on to say that the offenses violated Sections 516, 356(3), 80, 249(d), and 320 of the Ogun 2006 Criminal Code.
The accused were given N5 million bail apiece by Magistrate O.M. Somefun, with sureties who are authorized bondmen registered with the Ogun State government.
She postponed the case until a hearing on March 17. After the Ogun State Government locked his unfinished hotel and construction, Portable had vented his frustration.
The government took action because of alleged illegal growth without a permit, according to a letter shared on social media.
In a social media post, Portable stated that more than 20 people including artists, clients, and others who had come to him for assistance were arrested as a result of the government’s move.
Additionally, he claimed that phones, bikes, and automobiles were seized by the government.
The musician contended that in addition to selling drinks, he was also using the space to hold concerts and performances.