A magistrate court in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State has sentenced singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, to three months’ imprisonment for assault. The court, however, provided an option of fine totalling N30,000.
The judgment, delivered by Chief Magistrate Babajide Ilo, found Portable guilty on two counts of assault under the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006. The musician was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with an option of a N10,000 fine on the first count and two months’ imprisonment with an option of a N20,000 fine on the second count.
The charges stemmed from an incident on November 18, 2022, when Portable assaulted one Osimosu Emmanuel Oluwafemi at Okeosa, Ilogbo, within the Ifo Magisterial District. Portable was also accused of stealing musical equipment, including a Yamaha H55 studio monitor, a complete studio 2 interface connection cable, and an AKG P420 condenser microphone.
Police prosecutor Inspector Olumide Awoleke informed the court that the singer conspired with others, who are still at large, to commit the offences. Portable’s actions were deemed to have violated Sections 517, 351, 383, and 384 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006.
Portable was initially arraigned in April 2023 on a three-count charge of assault and theft under charge sheet No. MIF/192C/2023. He was granted bail at the time but failed to appear in court, leading to his remand in the Ogun State Correctional Service.
The court dismissed the third count of theft due to insufficient evidence.
