{"id":211631,"date":"2025-05-22T11:10:34","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T11:10:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/entertainment\/?p=211631"},"modified":"2025-05-22T11:10:34","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T11:10:34","slug":"all-the-times-portable-was-arrested-and-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/entertainment\/2025\/05\/22\/all-the-times-portable-was-arrested-and-why\/","title":{"rendered":"All the times Portable was arrested and why"},"content":{"rendered":"
Controversial Nigerian singer Habeeb Olalomi Okikiola Badmus better known as Portable, was born on March 12, 1994, in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The singer gained prominence with his 2021 hit single \u201cZaZoo Zehh\u201d featuring rapper Olamide and Poco Lee.<\/p>\n
Since his breakthrough, his career has been riddled with multiple controversies, including public disputes with fellow artistes and allegations of violent behaviour, leading to a history of being arrested and subsequently released.<\/p>\n
Unbothered, Portable seems to thrive on controversy, even tapping music inspiration from trending issues, particularly his predicaments and has continued to maintain his career alongside multiple run-ins with the law, making headlines for various legal troubles.<\/p>\n
WITHIN NIGERIA takes you through all the notable times Portable was arrested and or had encounters with law enforcement:<\/p>\n
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\u00a0July 2022 – Portable as alleged leader of cult\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In July 2022, the police force ordered an investigation into Portable\u2019s statement where he initially claimed to be the leader of the notorious 1-million boys cult.<\/p>\n
The commissioner of Police in response tweeted in part: \u201cCultism: Police to Investigate Portable over the formation of One Million Boys Sequel to the trending video of one Habeeb Okikiola aka Portable where he claimed to have formed the One-Million Boys cult group terrorising some parts of Lagos State.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
However, Portable who was disqualified from the Headies award that year later retracted his statement, luckily escaping an arrest.<\/p>\n
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March 2023 – Portable fails to honour police invitation.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Just a few months after his words about being a cultist almost got him in trouble, Portable was arrested for ignoring a 72-hour ultimatum given by the Ogun State Police Command to turn himself in.<\/p>\n
The singer was taken into custody on Friday, March 31, 2023 by the State Police Command and consequently arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on assault on Monday morning.<\/p>\n
After Portable was docked, the court adjourned the matter to April 26, 2023, and ordered that the singer be kept at Ilaro Correctional Centre till he perfects his N300,000 bail conditions.<\/p>\nPortable in court<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
This followed allegations that he assaulted his apprentice and an upcoming artiste, Osimosu Emmanuel, a.k.a Manny Monie, at his Odogwu Bar, in Ogun State, with the latter logging a complaint with the police.<\/p>\n
After multiple invitations from the police which he flouted, two videos surfaced on the Internet showing the musician raining curses and manhandling some police officers who accosted him over the issue.<\/p>\n
Following his alleged misconduct, the Force Headquarters in Abuja, through its spokesperson, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, revealed that the singer\u2019s action was unruly and punishable under the law. This was immediately followed by a press statement by the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Oyeyemi, asking the singer to either turn himself in at any police station in the state within 72 hours, or face police arrest once the ultimatum elapsed.<\/p>\nManny Monie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Reacting, Portable claimed that an alleged Internet fraudster brought the police officers to his bar to arrest him and his staff members \u201cfor no reason.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
Oyeyemi explained that the police moved to arrest Portable after five invites were sent to him and another through his father, but he never honoured any of the summons.<\/p>\n
He further disclosed the Zazu crooner was invited following a petition by a young studio owner, Manny Monie who claimed that Portable together with his aides beat him to stupor and locked his studio.<\/p>\n
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April 2024 – Naira abuse: EFCC vs Portable<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In April 2024, crossdresser Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky and socialite Pascal Okechukwu better known as Cubana chief priest were arrested and charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged Naira abuse.<\/p>\n
After seeing the punishment (6months imprisonment) meted out to Bobrisky, the Zazzu zeh singer went live on Instagram to plead with the anti-graft agency for forgiveness. He confessed to being guilty of spraying Naira notes and promised not to repeat such. His words, “I help a lot of people; after God is Government, Please forgive me if you have videos of me spraying money; no more spraying of money.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
The EFCC however did not respond to his statement, thereby escaping arrest by the whiskers.<\/p>\n
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May 2024 – Portable in G-Wagon debt<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Despite promising to keep his head above water, Portable became a trending topic after getting arrested on May 14, 2024, over a debt he reportedly incurred after buying a \u20a627 million G-Wagon from a motor dealer.<\/p>\n
The Lagos State Police Command arrested Portable, following a petition from the car dealer.<\/p>\n
According to the Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin, the singer, who appears to thrive on controversies, allegedly purchased a G-Wagon worth \u20a627 million from the car dealer, made a down payment of \u20a613 million, and took the vehicle away with the promise to pay the balance.<\/p>\n
Afterwards, the dealer asked the singer to return the car or pay the \u20a614 million balance, but Portable allegedly refused, claiming the vehicle was faulty.<\/p>\n
This prompted the car dealer to report the 31-year-old to the police after all attempts to secure his balance proved unsuccessful.<\/p>\n
Following a petition from the dealer, the police moved in and arrested the singer. Videos circulating across social media platforms show Portable being spoken to by policemen who read his warrant out to him, right before he swiftly leapt over a gate and sprinted off. Another video showed the moment he resisted after being apprehended by the policemen who carried him to their patrol vehicle.<\/p>\n
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February 2025 – Assault: Portable vs Ogun State government<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
About a month into the new year, Portable again got physical, ultimately leading to his arrest and a fresh round of legal battle. He was declared wanted by the Ogun State Police Command after he and his associates allegedly attacked government officials at his bar in Iyana Ilogbo.<\/p>\n
According to the police, the assault incident occurred on February 5, 2025, around 10 a.m. when three officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ota Zonal Office \u2013 TPL Onabanjo Abidemi, TPL Raymond Lateef, and TPL Ridwan Oyero Akinlesi \u2013 were conducting an enforcement exercise at Oke-Osa, Tigbo Ilu Ota.<\/p>\n
During the exercise, the officials encountered an elderly man, later identified as Portable\u2019s father, at Odogwu Bar, a property linked to the singer.<\/p>\n
Upon introducing themselves and requesting the building\u2019s approved plan, Portable\u2019s father informed them that his son was unavailable.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, moments later, Portable, armed with a firearm and other dangerous weapons, led a gang of nine thugs in a violent attack on the unarmed officials. The enforcement officers sustained various bodily injuries but managed to escape and reported the incident to the Ota Area Command, which subsequently escalated the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further action.<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cNine accomplices were arrested, but Portable fled the scene and has since gone into hiding. Multiple formal invitations were sent to him, requesting his presence at the Ogun State Police Command Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, which he deliberately ignored without cause or legal representation.<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cFollowing his repeated evasion, the Ogun State Police Command has obtained a valid court order declaring him wanted\u201d<\/em>, the Police statement read in part.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nPortable being followed after turning himself in<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Portable remained at large until February 19, 2025 when he turned himself in to the police in Lagos State, after he was declared wanted.<\/p>\n
The Ogun State Police Command confirmed Portable\u2019s voluntary surrender. His arrival was communicated in a press statement issued by the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, in Abeokuta. It read:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wish to inform the public that Habeeb Okikiola, also known as Portable, arrived at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, at exactly 13:23 hours today, February 19, 2025.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n
On February 29, he was arraigned at the Isabo High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The singer faced a five-count charge, including conspiracy, assault, restriction, being armed with cutlasses and guns, and conduct likely to cause harm. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.<\/p>\n
Magistrate O. L. Oke granted the singer bail in the sum of \u20a62 million with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case.<\/p>\n
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March 2025 \u2013 Saheed Osupa vs Portable\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Portable had barely escaped the clutches of the Ogun State government before getting embroiled in a brouhaha with veteran fuji musician, Okunola Saheed, popularly called Saheed Osupa.<\/p>\n
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In July 2022, the police force ordered an investigation into Portable\u2019s statement where he initially claimed to be the leader of the notorious 1-million boys cult.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/entertainment\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/IMG_4699.jpeg\")
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Despite promising to keep his head above water, Portable became a trending topic after getting arrested on May 14, 2024, over a debt he reportedly incurred after buying a \u20a627 million G-Wagon from a motor dealer.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/entertainment\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/IMG_4701.jpeg\")
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