Habeeb Okikiola, better known as the controversial singer Portable, has found himself at the center of a police investigation after being declared wanted by the Ogun State Police Command. The police announcement was made on Monday, following allegations that the singer assaulted officials from the Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority (OGPDPA) while they were carrying out their lawful duties.
The incident, which led to the police’s action, is said to have occurred on February 5, when Portable allegedly led a violent attack on officials conducting an enforcement exercise at Oke-Osa, Tigbo Ilu Ota. According to the police, the confrontation began when the officials encountered an elderly man, identified as Portable’s father, at the Odogwu Bar, a property associated with the singer.
“Portable’s father introduced himself and requested the building’s approved plan, but informed the officials that his son was unavailable at the time,” a police spokesperson explained. The situation quickly escalated, however, when Portable arrived on the scene. He allegedly armed himself with a firearm and other weapons, and led a group of nine thugs in an attack on the unarmed officials.
The police stated that the enforcement officers were injured during the altercation but managed to flee and report the assault to the Ota Area Command. The case was then escalated to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
While nine of Portable’s accomplices were arrested following the assault, the singer himself managed to escape the scene. Since then, he has gone into hiding, and the police have issued multiple formal invitations requesting his presence at the Ogun State Police Command Headquarters in Abeokuta. Despite these attempts to reach him, Portable allegedly ignored the invitations and did not provide any legal representation.
“Following his repeated evasion, the Ogun State Police Command has obtained a valid court order declaring him wanted,” the police statement read, urging the public to assist in locating the singer. The authorities are now actively searching for Portable in connection with the assault.
In response to the police’s declaration, Portable took to social media to share his side of the story. In a video posted on his Instagram account on Tuesday, the singer denied the accusations and suggested that he had been set up. He claimed that the incident stemmed from his decision to wear a vest bearing the image of Senator Adeola Solomon, known as Yayi, who currently represents Ogun West on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I fear government. I am a federal government liability. Then I’m a madman; I have medications that I usually take. You can confirm from Aro Hospital. I have a card that certifies me as one of their patients,” Portable explained in the video. He went on to reveal that he is receiving mental health treatment at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital Aro, located in Abeokuta.
The singer further defended his actions, claiming that he is not a criminal. “I am not a thief, I help people around me without even looking at their background,” Portable added. He went on to state that he had no involvement in any criminal activity and that the situation had been blown out of proportion.
Despite Portable’s claims, the Ogun State Police have insisted on pursuing the case. According to the police, the enforcement officials who were attacked during the February 5 incident have since provided testimonies that align with the initial investigation. The police have also emphasized that the singer’s actions, including allegedly brandishing a weapon, were criminal in nature and have warranted their ongoing search for him.
Authorities have stressed the seriousness of the situation, warning the public that the singer’s evasion of justice will only complicate matters further. “We urge anyone with information on Portable’s whereabouts to come forward and assist the police in their efforts to apprehend him,” the Ogun State Police Command added.
