A Magistrate Court sitting in Ifo Local Government of Ogun State, Nigeria, has granted bail to controversial singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable.
Portable was arraigned on Monday after his arrest by operatives of the state police command last Friday.
The artiste was brought before the court on a five-count charge of assault and stealing.
Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, while parading the controversial artiste before journalists at the command’s headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, on Friday, said the singer was arrested for allegedly assaulting one Osimusi Emmanuel.
The command however detained him for 72 hours before his arraignment in court.
In his defence, Portable’s counsel, Adodo Destiny, prayed the court to grant the singer bail.
While delivering his ruling on the bail application made by the defendant’s counsel, the magistrate, A.S Shoneye, said the offences were bailable and immediately granted him bail with a bail bond of ₦300,000 and two sureties who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.
The court, however, ruled that Portable be transferred to the Ilaro correctional centre, pending the time his bail requirements are met.
Shortly after he was let out of prison on Monday, the singer has spoken about his divine grace, albeit in s more sober tone.
Portable who shared a video of himself in the company of friends and family on the ride home from prison acknowledged the role that grace had played in his life and turned it into a song.
He said, “I get grace wey dem no dey disgrace.”
One Hit, Several Controversies: Portable’s Rise To Fame
Portable came to limelight after contributing to the song ‘ZaZoo Zehh’ featuring rapper Olamide and Nigerian dancer, Poco Lee.
Shortly after gaining popularity, he became well known for calling out his business partners on social media over scams on music or artiste management deals.
He is infamous for his reckless utterances and controversial activities which often brings him at loggerheads with law enforcement agencies.
Portable vs Poco lee
Barely a week after his song ‘Zazoo’ blew up, Portable was involved in a battle of words with one of his collaborators, Iweh Pascal Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee.
The duo fell out after Portable accused Poco Lee of ripping him of the $3,000 which Grammy award-winning singer, Wizkid, sprayed him while performing at the Wizkid Livespot Concert. He claimed he got only $600.
He also dragged Poco Lee for hijacking his song, ‘Zazoo’. “Na me get Zazoo!,” he fumed in a terse Tiktok video.
According to reports, Poco Lee, a dancer and hypeman, linked Portable with indigenous rap mogul, Olamide, who delivered a verse on ‘Zazoo Zehh’.
Following the release of the song on the 14th of December 2021, it introduced Poco Lee as the owner of the song, while indicating Portable and Olamide as featured acts.
It didn’t go down well with the singer who dragged the dancer in the mud online. His action led to his promoter, Quadri Taoreed, aka Kogbagidi, evicting him from the hotel he rented for him.
Poco Lee later came out to say he didn’t rip the singer as claimed, but that he shared the money among the team.
The trio finally reconciled after Portable tendered an apology.
Portable vs DJ Chicken
The Ogun State Police Command and Portable are known acquaintances maybe because the singer resides in the Sango area of the state.
On June 20, 2022 the command gave Portable 48 hours to report himself at the nearest police post or be arrested after his former Disc Jockey, DJ Chicken filed a case of assault against him.
In a viral video posted online, the singer and his men were seen assaulting the DJ.
Portable, who spoke in Yoruba, accused DJ Chicken of sending a message to his wife.
The ‘Zazoo’ crooner turned himself in 10 days after the police invitation in the company of his father and manager. He was later released on bail after interrogation.
One-Million-Boys Hoopla
Portable landed in yet another controversy in July 2022, after he boasted of establishing two notorious armed robbery gangs, ‘One Million Boys’ and ‘Ajah Boys’ in Lagos State.
“Have you heard of Ajah Boys, One Million Boys? I established them. Go and ask Sammy Larry,” he said in a viral video.
But Sammy Larry was quick to refute his claims.
Around this time, he also threatened to cause bodily harm to whoever emerged winner of the Headies Awards’ Best Street Artist and Rookie of the Year nominations – categories for which he was also nominated. This made organisers of the award strip him of his nominations.
His reckless utterances also landed him under the radar of the Lagos State Police Command which has vowed to proceed with a preliminary investigation following his claims of being the founding member of terror gangs.
However, he was never arrested over the reckless claim.
Portable vs Small Doctor
In December 2022, Portable ignited a feud with his colleague, Adekunle Temitope, better known as Small Doctor, after he alleged that the ‘Penalty’ crooner once set him up.
During an Instagram live session, Portable claimed that Small Doctor once sent thugs to ambush him in a bid to make himself seem like his saviour.
He berated Small Doctor for never assisting up-and-coming artists and for trying to use him to make a name for himself.
Portable later mended fences with Small Doctor, following the intervention of popular socialite, Abel Egbarin.
