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OGUN, Nigeria - A Magistrate Court located in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State sentenced the controversial hip-hop artist Habeeb Okikiola, known as Portable, to three months in prison for assault, with an alternative fine of N30,000 on Tuesday.
It is worth noting that Portable had previously been arraigned in April 2023 on three charges related to assault and the theft of a musical instrument, as per charge sheet No. MIF/192C/2023.
Initially, he was granted bail set at N300,000, requiring two sureties from his immediate family. However, he was brought back to court last Thursday after being absent for a period.
He was then remanded in the state Correctional Service and presented in court on Tuesday for the judgment.
The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Olumide Awoleke, explained to the court that Okikiola committed the offence on November 18, 2022, around 11:00 hours in Okeosa, Ilogbo, within the Ifo Magisterial District.
The charge sheet stated: “You, Badmus Habeeb Okikiola a.k.a. Portable, and others currently at large, on November 18, 2022, at 11:00 hours in Okeosa, Ilogbo, within the Ifo Magisterial District, conspired to commit a felony of assault, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006.
“You, Habeeb Okikiola Olalomi, on the same date, time, and location in the aforementioned district, unlawfully assaulted one Osimosu Emmanuel Oluwafemi (m), by beating him all over his body, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 351 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.
“You, Badmus Habeeb Okikiola a.k.a. Portable, sometime in 2022, at Okeosa, Ilogbo, in the Ifo Magisterial District, stole several musical devices, including a Yamaha H55 studio monitor, a complete studio 2 interface connection cable, and an AKG P420 condenser microphone, thereby committing an offence contrary to Sections 383 and 384, and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, Nigeria, 2006.”
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Babajide Ilo concluded that the singer was guilty on counts one and two.
He sentenced Portable to one month in prison with an alternative fine of N10,000 on count one, and two months in prison with an alternative fine of N20,000 on count two.
