Portable on the Run as Police Arraign Nine Over Assault on Ogun Officials

Popular singer Habeeb Okikiola, better known as Portable, is reportedly on the run following the arraignment of nine of his associates at an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court. The suspects were charged with assaulting officials from the Ota Zonal Planning office of the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

The accused, identified as Nurudeen Warris (21), Adetola Alashe (25), Samuel Adeleke (28), Oluwaseun Ayenuwa (19), Oluwapelumi Adeosun (20), Gospel Kanu (20), Precious Ohiegebo (19), Ifeoluwa Babatunde (27), and Fatimo Muhammed (26), face five charges, including felony, assault, obstruction, armed violence involving cutlasses and guns, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace. They pleaded not guilty.

According to Police Prosecutor Sunday Ekong, the alleged offences occurred on Wednesday around 10:00 a.m. at Oke-Osa, Tigbo Ilu, Sango-Ota, in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area. The prosecutor stated that the defendants, acting alongside Portable—who remains at large—attacked town planners Abidemi Onabanjo, Ramon Lateef, and Akinpelumi Oyero while they were carrying out their official duties at Odogwu Bar, a business owned by the singer.

Ekong further alleged that the group was armed with dangerous weapons and acted in a manner that threatened public order, with the intent to harm the officials. The charges, brought under sections 516, 356(3), 80, 249(d), and 320 of the Ogun State Criminal Code Laws of 2006, led to Magistrate O.M. Somefun granting bail to the defendants at N5 million each, requiring sureties who are licensed bond agents registered with the state government. The case was adjourned to March 17.

The incident reportedly stemmed from the sealing of Portable’s uncompleted building and hotel by the Ogun State Town Planning Office for illegal development without proper permits. The singer took to Instagram to express his frustration, claiming that authorities had confiscated over 20 individuals, including artists and customers, as well as vehicles, bikes, and phones from his establishment.

Portable accused the government of unfairly targeting his business despite his contributions to the community, such as providing streetlights and road repairs. “Why will they do that to my property that I am using to feed my family?” he lamented. He insisted that his establishment serves as a venue for booking events and promoting artists, not just a bar.

Concluding his statement, Portable remained defiant, declaring, “God is greater than them.”