Portable arraigned, remanded over assault, theft charges

Controversial singer Habeeb Okikiola, known as Portable, was arraigned on Monday at the Ota High Court in Ogun State on a nine-count criminal charge.

The charges, confirmed by police spokesperson Olufemi Babaseyi, include assault, theft, causing harm, and resisting arrest.

His arraignment follows a viral video showing the singer in police custody, reportedly connected to a complaint filed by his estranged partner, Ashabi Simple.

The prosecution alleges that on New Year’s Day, Portable attacked Ashabi Simple alongside police officers and others at his bar in the Iyana Ilogbo area. Other named victims include Ileyemi Damilola, Akinyanju Oluwabusayomi, Olowu Olumide, Demilade Ogunniyi, and Ebuka Odah.

He is also accused of stealing a Mercedes-Benz E300 valued at N12 million, belonging to Ileyemi.

In court, two siblings of Ashabi Simple testified as witnesses.

The police further accused Portable of obstructing and assaulting a female police inspector, Ogungbe Olayemi, during her official duties.

The presiding judge denied Portable bail, citing the absence of the allegedly assaulted police officer in court, and insisted on seeing the officer before ruling on the application.

Consequently, Portable was remanded until a fresh bail consideration on January 19.

This is not the singer’s first legal issue; in May of last year, he was convicted and sentenced to three months in prison for a separate assault from 2022.

The Ogun State Police Command has also ordered an investigation into a viral video that appears to show Portable being assaulted while in custody.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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