Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has narrowly avoided serving a jail sentence after being convicted for assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.
The judgment was handed down on Wednesday by the Ogun State Chief Magistrate Court, sitting in Ifo.
The incident, which dates back to November 18, 2022, involved Portable physically attacking a police inspector, Osimosu Emmanuel Oluwafemi, and obstructing officers who were trying to serve him an arrest warrant in Okeosa, Ilogbo.
According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Olumide Awoleke, the singer, along with others still at large, conspired to commit the felony of assault.
The charge sheet detailed multiple offences, including the alleged theft of music equipment such as a Yamaha H55 studio monitor, a Studio 2 interface cable, and an AKG P420 condenser mic.
These incidents reportedly occurred at various times throughout 2022 in the same locality. Portable was charged under several Sections of the Ogun State Criminal Code 2006.
Despite the gravity of the charges, Chief Magistrate Babajide Ilo found Portable guilty only of assault and resisting arrest (Counts 1 and 2).
The court sentenced him to one month in prison for Count 1 and two months for Count 2.
However, both sentences came with the option of fines—N10,000 and N20,000 respectively—totaling N30,000. Rather than serve the three-month term, Portable chose to pay the fine, effectively escaping jail time.
Tension hung heavy in the courtroom as the judgment was finally delivered, a defining moment in the singer’s well-documented saga of public missteps.
Portable, who is no stranger to brushes with the law, remained composed throughout the proceedings and opted to pay the fine shortly after the verdict was announced.
Persecondnews reports that his legal team declined to comment on whether he plans to appeal the conviction or pursue any further legal action.
While some fans have defended the singer, others argue that Portable’s actions set a dangerous precedent if left unchecked.
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