BREAKING: #Zazoo Crooner, #Portable Sent To Ilaro Correctional Centre Prison—Habib Okikiola, the zazu zee crooner famously known as Portable, has been arraigned before a magistrate court in Ifo, Ifo local government area of Ogun State presided over by the Chief Magistrate, A.S Shoneye on a five count charge bordering on assault and stealing.
The accused however pleaded not guilty to those charges.
Delivering his ruling on application for bail made by the defence counsel, Shoneye said the offences are bailable and granted him bail with bail bond of N300,000, and two sureties who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.
In another charge of assault and stealing, Portable was admitted to bail to the tune of #500,000 with two sureties.
The court however ruled that the defendant be transferred to the Ilaro correctional centre pending the time his bail requirements are met.
He was unable to meet the bail conditions, however and was handed over to officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service, who took him to the Ilaro Correctional Centre where he will stay till either the bail conditions are met or the next date for hearing.
Speaking to newsmen, the Defense counsel, Adodo Destiny, said his team are happy with the decision of the court, saying the legal team is ready to defend their client.
His words: “There are things we need to first clear. The news outside is that he was arrested and detained. That is not true. He willingly submitted himself to the police in respect to the invitation that was served on him. Incidentally, the police had the way and he was detained and arraigned today in court.
“What has happened in court today is that, we made our position known to the court that all the preferred charges against him are ordinarily bailable and without going into the merit of the case so that we do not prejudice the matter, the court agreed with us and granted him bail and of course, he will be available to defend himself once trial commences and return date for trial will be the 26th of April, 2023.
“We are very satisfied because the court agreed that further detention or remanding him without granting him bail will affect his fundamental rights as provided and guaranteed by the 1999 constitution as amended, particularly section 36.
“The court was very liberal and for that we are grateful. The court, beyond granting him bail, stipulated the terms on which the bail was granted. Part of which is that the sureties should be part of his relation and aside that, should be a tax paying resident within the jurisdiction of the court and the financial terms is N500,000 in the first charge and the second charge, N300,000. We are hopeful that we will be able to meet the terms of his bail conditions.
“There is an order of court for his remanding at the correctional facility. We are also very hopeful that we will be able to meet his bail terms before the court rises”.
The case has been adjourned to the 26th of April for the commencement of trial.
