The Ogun State Police Command has said an investigation is ongoing as the controversial singer, Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, on Wednesday, turned himself in to the authorities.
The Lagos State Police Command through its spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed in a statement that the singer surrendered himself at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, in the Yaba area of the state earlier in the morning.
Hundeyin added that the Ogun State Command was contacted for onward transfer of the singer to the state.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, in a statement minutes later confirmed Portable’s arrival at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Abeokuta.
Odutola stated that the singer arrived at 1:23 pm in connection with an ongoing investigation.
“His presence at the SCID is in connection with an ongoing investigation. The command assures the public that due process will be followed in handling this matter, and updates will be provided as necessary. We urge members of the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information. The Ogun State Police Command remains committed to upholding justice and maintaining public order,” the statement added.
While responding to an inquiry by PUNCH Metro on the command’s next action after his appearance, Odutola said an investigation would continue.
She added that the singer’s case would be treated like every other Nigerian that he is.
“Police will investigate. Portable is a Nigerian and should not be made like he is too important,” she said.
Odutola upon further inquiries said she could not tell when the singer would be arraigned in court.
Portable in a video on Tuesday declared that he was “a madman and undergoing treatment at the Federal Neuropsychiatric, Aro, Abeokuta.”
He said this while appealing to Nigerians and the Ogun State Government after being declared wanted by the state police command.
The singer was reportedly involved in a violent altercation with three officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ota Zonal Office—TPL Onabanjo Abidemi, TPL Raymond Lateef, and TPL Ridwan Oyero Akinlesi—during an enforcement at Oke-Osa, Tigbo Ilu Ota, Ogun State.
According to the officials, they initially encountered Portable’s father at the Odogwu Bar, where he informed them that his son was unavailable. Moments later, Portable allegedly arrived armed with a firearm and, along with nine thugs, launched an attack on the unarmed officials.
The police reported that the enforcement officers sustained injuries but managed to escape and report the incident to the Ota Area Command, which escalated the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department. While nine of Portable’s alleged accomplices were arrested, the singer reportedly fled the scene and went into hiding.
Odutola had while declaring him wanted stated that multiple formal invitations were sent to Portable, requesting his presence at the command headquarters but he deliberately ignored them without offering any legal representation.
“Following his repeated evasion, the Ogun State Police Command has obtained a valid court order declaring him wanted,” she added.
Reacting to the allegations, Portable took to Instagram on Tuesday in a series of rants, claiming that he was being set up because he wore a vest featuring the image of the lawmaker representing Ogun West, Senator Adeola Solomon, popularly known as Yayi. He also reiterated that he is mentally unstable and has a medical history at the psychiatric hospital.
“I fear government. I am a federal government liability. I am 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,” he said.
“I am from Abeokuta, and they are taking care of me there. I am not a thief; I help people around me without even looking at their background,” he added.
The police had arraigned nine of Portable’s associates before a Magistrate Court in Isabo, Abeokuta, for allegedly assaulting officers of the Ota Zonal Planning Office of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
The defendants – 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) – were charged with felony, assault, unlawful restriction, possession of weapons, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
PUNCH