Controversial singer Habib Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has repeatedly drawn the attention of law‑enforcement agencies. He has twice fallen into the grip of the Nigeria Police Force over reported erratic behaviour, unguarded utterances, and alleged assaults on colleagues and business associates. The most recent incident involved his self‑confessed assault on a young music producer, Manny Monie, which led to his arrest on Friday by operatives of the Ogun State Police Command.
Portable was taken into custody in Ogun State after a 72‑hour ultimatum expired. He had refused to honour an invitation to turn himself in for the alleged assault on Manny Monie, who had earlier filed a petition with the police. He is expected to remain in custody until Monday, when he will likely be charged with assault and other offences. Earlier that week, two videos surfaced online showing the musician hurling curses at and harassing police officers at his Odogu bar in the Sango Ota area. In both videos, Portable claimed that Monie was an alleged internet fraudster who had brought the police to his bar “for no reason.” However, Ogun State police spokesperson Abimbola Oyeyemi clarified that officers moved to arrest Portable after five summons were sent to him and another to his father, none of which were honoured.
In June 2022, Portable was also required to report to the Ogun State Police Command headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, following an order from former Commissioner of Police Lanre Bankole. The charge related to an alleged assault on a young disc jockey known as DJ Chicken. Police had threatened to declare the singer wanted if he failed to appear after reports that he had organised youths to beat up his estranged friend. Oyeyemi later disclosed that Portable, aided by his father and manager, reported on Wednesday, 29 June 2022. He was interrogated about his role in the assault, released on reliable surety because the offence was bailable, and the strike action in the state at the time delayed court proceedings. A statement from the command’s PPRO read: “The hip‑hop artiste Habib Okikiola a.k.a Portable, who was requested to report himself at the nearest police station over a viral video where he was seen ordering a group of boys to beat up one boy identified as DJ Chicken, has reported at the command’s headquarters Eleweran on Wednesday, 29 June 2022.”
A month later, in July 2022, Inspector‑General of Police Usman Baba ordered an investigation into Portable’s claim that he founded notorious gangs and cult groups. In a viral eight‑second video, Portable boasted, “Listen to me well, have you heard about Ajah Boys and One Million Boys? I am their founder. Go and ask Sammy Larry.” The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, issued a statement confirming that the IGP had directed the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to investigate the statement and take legal action, emphasizing the police’s ongoing effort to dismantle cult groups. No further information on the outcome of the probe has been released.
Also in July 2022, Smooth Productions, organisers of Nigeria’s popular music awards The Headies, petitioned the police after Portable threatened other nominees. The singer posted death threats on Instagram towards artists nominated in the categories for which he was a contender—Best Street‑Hop Artiste and Rookie of the Year. Speaking in Yoruba, he said, “Those are my awards; anybody else who wins I will ask for them to be killed. If the organisers give my award to someone else, they will die.” He added in pidgin English, “No go give my award to another person, he go die o.” The organisers subsequently disqualified Portable and warned him to retract his statements and issue a written apology, which he later did in an online video.
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