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By Lizzy Chirkpi
Controversial Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, widely known as Portable, has been convicted and handed a three-month jail term with the option of a N30,000 fine by an Ogun State Chief Magistrate Court.
The controversial singer was found guilty of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.
The court’s judgment followed the charges brought against the artist stemming from an incident in March 2023.
Portable was apprehended for physically attacking a police inspector and obstructing officers who were attempting to serve him with an arrest warrant.
During the court proceedings, the Police Prosecutor, Inspector Olumide Awoleke, detailed the events leading to the charges. He informed the court that “Habeeb Okikiola committed the offence on 18 November 2022 at approximately 11:00 am in Okeosa, Ilogbo, within the Ifo Magisterial District.”
The charge sheet outlined several allegations against the singer, including conspiracy to commit felony, assault, and theft of musical equipment.
It stated: “That you, Badmus Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, and others now at large, on the 18th day of November 2022 at 11:00 hrs, in Okeosa, Ilogbo, within the Ifo Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony, to wit: assault, and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State 2006.”
Furthermore, the charge sheet accused Portable of direct assault: “That you, Habeeb Okikiola Olalomi, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned district, did unlawfully assault one Osimosu Emmanuel Oluwafemi (male) by beating him all over his body, thereby committing an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 351 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria 2006.”
The allegations also included the theft of musical instruments: “That you, Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, on various occasions in the year 2022, at Okeosa, Ilogbo, within the Ifo Magisterial District, did steal some musical equipment, including a Yamaha H55 studio monitor, a complete Studio 2 interface connection cable, and an AKG P420 condenser, thereby committing an offense contrary to Sections 384 and 383 and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, Nigeria, 2006.”
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Babajide Ilo found Portable guilty on Counts 1 and 2. He delivered the sentence stating, “I sentence the defendant to one month’s imprisonment with an option of a N10,000 fine for Count 1 and two months with an option of a N20,000 fine for Count 2.”
This judgment effectively gives the singer the option to pay a total fine of N30,000 to avoid the three-month jail term.