- Nine associates of singer Portable arraigned in Ogun for allegedly assaulting town planning officers; singer reportedly on the run.
- Defendants charged with felony, assault, possession of weapons, and attempted murder; all plead not guilty.
- Court grants ₦5 million bail each, case adjourned to March 17 for hearing.
The Ogun State Police Command on Thursday arraigned nine associates of controversial singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, at a Magistrates’ Court in Isabo, Abeokuta.
They were charged with allegedly assaulting officers from the Ota Zonal Planning Office of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Portable, who is also implicated in the attack, is reportedly on the run.
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The defendants—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 arraigned on five counts, including felony, assault, possession of weapons, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, and attempted murder.
Police Prosecutor Sunday Ekong stated that the incident occurred Wednesday night at Oke-Osa in Tigbo Ilu, Sango-Ota, where the suspects, along with Portable, attacked three town planning officers while they were performing their lawful duties at Odogwu Bar, owned by the singer.
The charges were filed under sections 516, 356(3), 80, 249(d), and 320 of the Ogun State Criminal Code, 2006.
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The defendants pleaded not guilty.
Delivering a ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs O.M Somefun, granted the defendants ₦5 million bail each with sureties who are licensed bondsmen registered with the Ogun state government.
The case was adjourned to March 17 for a hearing.
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