Fear Grips Portable, Goes Into Hiding
The Ogun police command has arraigned nine associates of singer Portable for allegedly assaulting officers of the Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority (OGPDPA).
The incident occurred when the OGPDPA officials visited Portable’s Odogwu bar and restaurant to seal the property due to a lack of approved permits and insufficient air space.
Portable had claimed that the officials stormed his bar, arrested over 20 people, including artists and customers, and seized vehicles, gadgets, and personal belongings.
However, Olatunji Odunlami, the commissioner for physical planning, dismissed Portable’s claims as “spurious and blatant falsehood”.
Odunlami alleged that Portable assaulted a government officer serving him a notice.
In an update shared Lifestyle on Friday, Odunlami confirmed that nine of Portable’s associates were arraigned before an Abeokuta magistrate court.
The commissioner said Portable was recorded in absentia and is “likely to be declared wanted”.
The state government accused the suspects of assaulting OGPDPA officials.
The suspects, identified as Oluwaseun Ayenuwa, 19; Precious Ohiegebo, 19; Oluwapelumi Adeosun, 20; Gospel Kanu, 20; Nurudeen Warris, 21; Adetola Alashe, 25; Fatimo Muhammed, 26; Ifeoluwa Babatunde, 27; and Samuel Adeleke, 28, were arraigned on a five-count charge of armed violence with cutlasses and guns, felony, obstruction, assault, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, and intent to kill.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Portable was said to have unlawfully restricted, obstructed, and assaulted town planners Ramon Lateef, Akinpelumi Oyero, and Abidemi Onabanjo while they were performing their lawful duties.
In her ruling, O.M. Somefun, the court magistrate, granted the defendants bail of N5 million each, with sureties who are licensed bond agents registered with the state government.
The case has been adjourned until March 17 for further hearing.
Also, Portable’s tour of the United Kingdom has been postponed amid the police investigation.
Show promoter Billiamin Olabanji announced the development in a now-deleted Instagram post and attributed the postponement to unforeseen circumstances.
