Controversial singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has escaped a three-month jail term after paying a N30,000 fine imposed by a Magistrate Court in Ogun State.
The court, presided over by Chief Magistrate Babajide Ilo and sitting in Ifo, Ifo Local Government Area, sentenced the singer on Tuesday to three months’ imprisonment for assault.
However, the sentence came with the option of a fine—N10,000 for one count and N20,000 for the second—which Portable promptly paid.
Police prosecutor Inspector Olumide Awoleke told the court that the offences were committed on November 18, 2022, around 11 am in Okeosa, Ilogbo, within the Ifo Magisterial District.
The charge sheet stated:
“That you, Badmus Habeeb Okikiola a.k.a. 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 a felony to wit: assault, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006.
“That you, Habeeb Okikiola Olalomi, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned district, did unlawfully assault one Osimosu Emmanuel Oluwafemi, by beating him all over his body, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 351 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.”
A third charge accused the singer of stealing studio equipment, including a Yamaha H55 monitor and an AKG P420 microphone, but the court only found him guilty of assault and conspiracy.
Portable was sentenced to one month in prison with an option of N10,000 fine for the first count and two months with an option of N20,000 fine for the second.
The Zazu crooner was first arraigned in April 2023 on a three-count charge bordering on assault and theft under charge sheet No. MIF/192C/2023.
He was initially granted bail in the sum of N300,000 with two family sureties.
However, after repeatedly failing to appear in court, Portable was re-arrested last Thursday and remanded at the state Correctional Service until Tuesday’s judgment.
